Camping in Brittany, the definitive bitesize guide to the region

Article Written By: wgoodridge

Brittany is a very popular destination; the region's love affair with British people has been longstanding. Why the region is so attractive to many travelers? The attraction of Brittany stems from magical landscapes, a dramatic coastline and cultural centres that remain true to their history to this very day and provide interesting days out for everyone who loves the outdoors.

Carnac

Starting at Carnac, it shelters one of the most spectacular concentrations of prehistoric monuments in the world. The first sight of Carnac's fields of standing stones is breathtaking, if only for the sheer numbers involved. There are more than 3,000 menhirs and other megalithic structures within a 4.5km (3-mile) radius and nobody knows for sure who put them there. What most experts agree is that the monuments, mostly long lines (alignements) of standing stones (menhirs), were erected between 4500 and 1800bc and were used during a religious or ritual activity. There are three main groups of 'alignements' just north of the town. Conservation measures mean it is no longer possible to wander at will among them, although you can walk around one small section at Kermario. The information point here has a model that helps you appreciate the scale of the site. Some 300m (1,000ft) east of the town, the tumulus of St-Michel is a prehistoric burial mound that looks so much like a natural hill that a chapel was built on it in the 16th century.

Brest

Brest is one of the largest cities and has been a significant settlement since Roman times. Its natural deep-water port is home to a large naval base. Despite its long history, the city is not particularly enticing much of its older architecture was destroyed during World War II. Brest's most important visitor attraction lies on the waterfront a little way out of the city heart. Ocand#233;anopolis is a theme park on a Disneyland Paris scale, based on life in the oceans. More than 10,000 marine creatures live in aquariums varying in size from 50 litres (11 gallons) to 1,000,000 litres (220,000 gallons). The park is divided into three sections. Polar, Tropical and Temperate and you'll see everything from octopuses and sharks to seahorses and electric eels. There are film shows and feeding displays, as well as a recreated penguin environment. Don't miss the Pont de Recouvrance, a huge lift-bridge said to be the highest in Europe.

Vannes

Vannes, on the western coast of the Golfe du Morbihan, has a wonderful old town full of 16th- and 17th-century architecture. Its narrow streets are perfect for strolling, and it has a livelier, more cosmopolitan feel than many Breton towns. Throughout the Middle Ages Vannes shared the accolade of being the Breton capital with Nantes and Rennes. It is where Brittany was formally signed over to the French crown in 1532. Its port played an important trading role in times past, but today it caters only to pleasure traffic. You can take excursions from it around the Golfe du Morbihan. Don't miss the famous carved corbel peering out from the corner of rue du Rogues. The ruddy-faced figures are known as Vannes et sa femme (Vannes and his wife).

The Granite Rose

This is a great place for a family camping beach holiday. The resort encapsulates what is most attractive about Brittany's Pink Granite Coast, with fine sandy bays interspersed with rose granite rocky outcrops. The houses are made from the local rose granite, giving the town a beautiful pink hue, especially at sunset. Don't miss out on the town beaches 'Plage de Trestraou and Plage de Trestrignel and the scenic coastal paths are superb.

The Pink Granite Coast is one of the most dramatic stretches of Brittany's shoreline and the region's most northerly area. Here, land meets sea in an unending visual spectacle of high cliffs, narrow inlets, fjord-like river valleys and sheltered coves. The coastline gets its name from the granite rocks, pinkish-brown in harsh sunlight, mellowing to a deep rosy hue at sunset. The granite has been a popular building material all along the coast, making a stark contrast to the grey stone or white-painted stucco in other areas of Brittany.

Pointe du Raz

Pointe du Raz is the most dramatic of Brittany's wild peninsulas. Here the land meets the untamed Atlantic Ocean in a crescendo of breaking waves, charging wind and screeching gulls. The point sits on the western tip of the Cap Sizun, and the views down to the sea are breathtaking. You can't drive to the tip, but you can park at a welcome area with exhibition space, cafes and shops. In July and August a shuttle-bus takes you out to the tip, otherwise it is a walk of 1.5km (1 mile) along a paved footpath to the lighthouse.

About the Author

Will Goodridge - The website helps you find the best places for camping holidays in France.

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