Despite dozens of visits to France over the past 25 years, neither of us had been to Brittany before our exploratory trip in March 2022. Like most Americans, Paris was what we knew about France. Over the years, we’d ventured to Normandy, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Loire Valley, the Pyrenees, Alsace-Lorraine and the Mediterranean. But I’d never heard of Rennes until it popped up in a Google search of the most livable cities in France.
So, exploring the place we now call home has been a priority. We thought we’d share a few photographs from our nearby journeys.
But, first, some quick background: Brittany is the section in the far northwest of France that sticks out toward the Celtic Sea and the British Isles. It’s about the size of Maryland, less than a third of Pennsylvana. You can get from one end to the other by car in less than three hours.
In many ways it seems separate from the rest of the country, with its own traditional culture, administrative council, far-left politics, cool-looking flag, and even an ancient Celtic language that’s still widely spoken. We are a peninsula whose weather and landscape are shaped by the strong winds and rain that blow in from the Atlantic.
That weather drew us here; in an age of global warming, we wanted nothing of the south’s stifling summers. The downside, of course, is a lot of our travel in Brittany has taken place in less-than-ideal weather. In fact, we abandoned one trip last year, to Concarneau, in the midst of a bomb cyclone that wracked the coast with 100 kph winds.
Gorgeous pictures (as usual!) thank you. I so appreciate all the true life details. I'm outlining my trip to France next year - my retirement gift to myself - and Brittany is definitely on the list. I also have travelled to other places, but not the West coast.
Gorgeous pictures (as usual!) thank you. I so appreciate all the true life details. I'm outlining my trip to France next year - my retirement gift to myself - and Brittany is definitely on the list. I also have travelled to other places, but not the West coast.
So much fun visiting Brittany vicariously through your eyes! What beautiful towns and scenery! We must return!