Brittany, known as Bretagne in French, is a picturesque region in northwest France. It is uniquely situated, bordered by the English Channel to the north, the Bay of Biscay to the south, and the vast Atlantic Ocean to the west. This geographical positioning gives Brittany a rugged coastline, characterized by dramatic cliffs, sandy beaches, and charming fishing villages.
From the beginning of the second millennium, the region was primarily inhabited by Britons – Celtic people who fled from the British Isles, particularly from regions like Cornwall, Devon, and Wales, to escape Anglo-Saxon invasions. This migration led to Brittany being affectionately termed “Little” or “Lesser Britain,” distinguishing it from “Great Britain”. During the medieval era, Brittany emerged as a powerful and independent kingdom, asserting its influence and maintaining a distinct cultural identity. By the 15th century, however, Brittany became a duchy under French rule, following the marriage of Duchess Anne of Brittany to two successive French kings. This union eventually led to the formal incorporation of Brittany into the French Kingdom, though the region has always retained a strong sense of cultural autonomy. Today, Brittany is celebrated for its unique blend of Celtic and French heritage. The Breton language, a Celtic tongue closely related to Cornish and Welsh, is still spoken by some inhabitants.
We spent there a couple of days this summer. To sum up my first sight impressions, I have chosen five photos that as to my recollection reflect that what we saw.
Beautiful landscapes, especially those at the English Channel and beneath at the Atlantic coast. The Atlantic coast is once at low at high water. If you look closely at the picture, you can see that some of the boats are actually laying on the ground. The photo was taken at the low tide. In the left-low corner, lavender flowers widespread in the country.
The streets of old towns are a mixture of different architecture styles, sometimes well preserved from the past, sometimes rebuilt after fires or war damage. On the picture you can see three main characteristics: the grey sandstone bricks, the steeply pitched roofs that sometimes cover also part of facades at upper floors (it is typical for France, compare pictures below), as well as half-timbered walls with timber frames painted mostly in blue, red and green (popular in the past in many European countries).
The greenery. On the picture hortensias at the rock walls. Those on the picture are relatively small. (They can grow two-meter high.) Although native in Asia (this year we saw them in many Japanese gardens) they are widespread also in Europe. Another popular plant we saw in many places was lavender-type flowers you can see in the first picture in the lower-left corner.
The railway viaduct of Morlaix, an arch bridge built 1863, as part of the Paris-Brest railway line. It is designed as a towering double-decker arch bridge. The design features 14 arches, each spanning 15 meters, and the bridge itself is over 290 meters long. Standing at approximately 62 meters high, the Morlaix Viaduct was constructed using local granite, which gives it a distinctive appearance and ensures its durability. The upper deck of the viaduct carries the railway track.
Below houses in style typical for Bretagne and for France. The buildings have traditional steep roofs and are constructed with a mix of stone and other materials. re slate roofs of different kinds.
Boats at the low tide and architecture the same style you saw on the above pictures. We visited several small towns. The photos were taken at different spots, but if you combine them, you can imagine how the cities in Bretagne look like (at least from the tourist perspective).
