The nearest large town is Morlaix, 15 minutes
away. It has a picturesque port with many sailing boats
and plenty of museums, art galleries and 17th century houses
to visit. Also, in August, there is a highly colourful "Art
in the Streets" festival, in which street theatre takes
place all over the town. The old town is still, in parts,
medieval. There is a huge viaduct, made out of the local
pink granite. Morlaix has many royal connections.
Mary, Queen of Scots passed through Morlaix in the 16th
century and the Duchess of Brittany (who was then Queen
of all France) visited Morlaix in 1508. She is reputed to
have stayed at the Maison de la Reine Anne - which is one
of the town's most beautiful houses.
Lannion: The Bay of Lannion will impress
you. One enormous beach stretches from St Michel en Greve
to Plestin les Greves and across to Locquirec, at low tide
you can walk hundreds of metres out onto the sands. The
town itself has good shopping and is quite pretty with many
half timbered houses. It is worth climbing the 142 steps
leading to the Eglise de Brelevenez - the views from the
bell tower terrace are superb.
Tregastel: Rose Granite Coast. Unusual
rock formations shaped by the wind, including Napoleons
hat! Monts D Arree In the centre of Brittany is a wild windswept
moorland area which is very atmospheric and has several
museums with the theme of Breton culture and nature.
Treguier is one of the few hill towns
in Brittany. The Cathedrale de St Tugdal is where the tomb
of St Yves lay. St Yves was the patron saint of lawyers
- because he was renowned for his incorruptibility!
Perros Guirec is a very popular seaside
resort with a pleasant harbour and safe sandy beaches. The
area is reputed to have the best stretch of the Pink Granite
Coast and is particularly spectacular when the sun is setting.
There are plenty of coastal walks in the area. A small ferry
operates from here to Les Sept Iles throughout the year.
There are many market days in the areas, but we hope that
these will give you a start and also a flavour of Breton
life.