11 Best Things To Do In Brittany

Are you looking for the best things to do in Brittany?

Brittany is famed for its ruggedly beautiful 700-mile coastline, great gastronomy, and distinct culture, and it is one of France’s most scenic provinces.

Surrounded by the sea and filled with character, Brittany is an interesting destination to discover.

Whether you wish to meander around walled medieval cities, explore peaceful villages, or appreciate Stone Age sites, Brittany has plenty to offer.

11 Best Things To Do In Brittany

Continue reading to discover some of the best locations to visit and things to do in this gorgeous part of France.

1. Step inside Saint-Malo Cathedral

Saint-Malo is home to some of France’s most stunning churches and  among them is the town’s cathedral.  This church was built in 1146 and has endured the test of time with its majestic construction.

One of the best things to do in Brittany is visit the church, which is noted for its stunning stained-glass windows and towering building.

2. Get to know Rennes, the region’s capital

Rennes, Brittany’s capital, is bursting at the seams with culture and events. It is noted for its half-timbered houses from the Middle Ages and was named France’s most livable city in 2018.

For some peace and quiet, go to Parc du Thabor, a charming French garden. The Museum of Fine Arts is a great place to visit if you want to learn more about the city’s history and  culture. For a taste of the region’s best crepes, go to Creperie Ouzh-Taol.

3. Explore Nantes

During the Middle Ages, Nantes, located at the junction of the Erdre and Loire Rivers, was the capital of the Duchy of Brittany. Today, Nantes is France’s sixth largest city and a thriving hub of higher education.

Begin your tour of Nantes’ historic core in the Château des Ducs de Bretagne, where the Musee d’Histoire de Nantes is housed in its splendid Gothic reception rooms.

The collection includes paintings, sculptures, pictures, model ships, and scientific instruments, among other things.

After the château, head west to the Bouffay district. Explore the maze of meandering lanes adorned with half-timbered houses.

In the centre of Nantes, the Place Royale, an attractive 18th-century square, and the Rue Crébillon, with its many stores and restaurants, are also great places to visit.

4. See Carnac’s Neolithic sites 

Carnac is named after the Celtic word “carn,” meaning “stone monument,” and is located on the Quiberon Bay.

See Carnac’s Neolithic structures, which include the “Circuit des Alignments,” which consists of freestanding circles and rows of stones up to six meters high, and the Tumulus Saint-Michel megalithic monument, which is topped by a modest chapel.

The Musée de Préhistoire de Carnac, in Carnac, is one of Europe’s top prehistoric museums, with exhibits from nearby archaeological sites.

From 450,000 BC through the Gallo-Roman epoch, the collection portrays human evolution, encompassing the Paleolithic Period (Stone Age) and the Neolithic era.

5. Experience Island life in Belle-Île-en-Mer

The name of the island translates to “Beautiful Island in the Sea,” a perfect description of its stunning natural environment in Quiberon Bay on Brittany‘s southwest coast.

The primary centre of activity on Belle-Île-en-Mer is Le Palais, an intriguing village with many restaurants, hotels, art galleries, and artisans’ enterprises.

Above the harbor in Le Palais is the Citadelle Vauban, a historic citadel that is now a Hôtel-Musée (Hotel-Museum). A road extends southwest across the island from Le Palais to the rough Côte Sauvage coastline.

Southeast of Le Palais is the Plage des Grands Sables, the island’s most stunning beach.

6. Learn about the history of the Chateau de Dinan

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The Dinan Castle, or Château de Dinan, was erected in 1382. It is also known as the “Donjon de la Duchesse Anne” and was completed shortly after John IV of Montfort, Duke of Brittany, returned from exile in England.

Dinan’s settlement is physically connected to the castle, and it acts as the town’s primary defense. The castle was built particularly to be a residential castle, even though it performs significant security and defense responsibilities.

Some of the must-see features of the castle are the kitchen on the ground level, and the halls and chambers decorated in traditional medieval style.

7. Stroll through the forest of Brocéliande

Broceliande Forest lies around 40 kilometers (25 miles) west of Rennes, and the majority of the forest is owned by a few famous families in the area. As a result, certain parts may be closed to the public.

However, most of the best places to visit and explore are available to visitors.

The woodland is believed to be a particularly legendary and enigmatic region because of the countless stories and traditions surrounding King Arthur, Merlin the wizard, and Viviane the fairy.

8. Hike the Pink Granite Coast

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On the side of Perros-Guirec, in the northwest of Côtes-d’Armor, the Brittany coast is strewn with pink granite rocks, cliffs, and coves.

The Sentier des Douaniers coastal trek, which stretches from the fashionable seaside town Perros-Guirec to the village of Ploumanac’h, is the ideal way to discover the Pink Granite Coast.

The stormy sea, several uninhabited islets, and reliefs of pink granite rocks will all astonish you along the way.

Spend some time on the gorgeous and little sandy beach of Ploumanac’h, France’s most beautiful village in 2015: it’s like walking on the moon when the tide is low.

9. Feast on oysters in Cancale

Seafood may be found all across Brittany, but the best oysters are in Cancale, a small fishing community 13 kilometers east of Saint-Malo.

Every day, the La Houle Harbour Oyster Market is open and fresh oysters are sold at wholesale prices.

Simply sit on the quay and shuck your extra-fresh oysters while appreciating the beauty of the sea, as they are served on a dish with a bit of lemon. They go nicely with wine, bread, and butter, so bring your own for a more refined oyster feast for lunch. 

10. Take in the sights and flavors of Quimper

Crêpes and galettes are two almost identical traditional Brittany treats. They’re common across the region, and they’re frequently served with an apple cider bolée (ceramic bowl).

Many consider Quimper, the capital of Brittany’s Finistère district, to be the best when it comes to crepes and galettes.

In the old town, particularly on Rue du Sallé and Place au Beurre, there are various great crêperies. A must-try is the galette-saucisse, or buckwheat pancake with sausage. It’s the traditional street food from Brittany and a must while exploring Quimper. 

11. Discover Pont-Aven’s Arts Scene

Pont-Aven in the Finistère department of Brittany was discovered in the 1860s by American painters, but it is most famous for its connection to the post-Impressionist painter Paul Gauguin and the Pont-Aven art movement.

Gauguin arrived at Pont-Aven in 1886 and co-founded the “Ecole de Pont-Aven” style of painting with Émile Bernard.

Many works by Ecole de Pont-Aven painters can be found in the village’s Musée de Pont-Aven.

For those who want to see the scenes that inspired great art, an Artists’ Trail map (available at the tourist office) shows the sites in Pont-Aven and the surrounding area that were captured by the Ecole de Pont-Aven painters.

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