Campsites in Brittany & Family Holidays in Brittany

There can be few places on earth so charming and unspoiled as Brittany. Yet for all its natural appeal, there is more to the region than simply endless miles of sandy beaches, hidden coves and picture perfect rock pools. Take a little time to explore and you will find that Brittany also offers you historic sites that pre-date the pyramids, picturesque villages by the dozen, charming old towns such as St Malo and Quimper, and of course, the timeless grandeur of Mont St Michel.

Camping Holidays in Brittany

Brittany is made up of the four departments of Finistère, Côtes-d’Armor, Ille-Et-Villaine and Morbihan that are all really individual. It has a rich history and is proud of its seafaring roots. It’s a popular holiday destination for us Brits with more than 600 km of stunning coastline with long sandy beaches, quiet undisturbed coves that enclose the north western tip of France and 27,500 sq. km of green and rolling countryside with quiet market towns. The Breton people are very similar to our own Cornish. They are hardy, down to earth and friendly and are closely involved with both sea and land which remain a strong part of their culture. You can still hear Breton being spoken in some parts and many a local tradition is celebrated at the many lively festivals held throughout the year.

Breton culture has deep roots and connects it to a long and lively past. Standing stones can be seen around Carnac and legend links the young King Arthur to the forests around Paimpont where he is said to have received Excalibur, his famous sword. Many bustling medieval towns such as Vanes, Dinan and Rennes, all have half-timbered buildings and well defended sea ports such as St. Malo, Fougères and Vitré show the strategic importance of the region throughout history. The natural beauty has been important to many artists in the past and the Pont-Aven has a large number of galleries showing the work of today’s artists.

When you are in France you have to think of food and the region is known for its excellent seafood Concarneau is very well known for the quality of its oysters and mussels but crepes, both sweet and savoury, are local specialities. Of course, local cider and the famous apple brandy that’s made from cider, Calvados, is also worth tracking down. Rich dairy produce including creams and soft cheeses are also local high points so it’s just as well there’s a great choice of activity to work off all those calories. Activities include sailing, windsurfing, fishing, golf, hiking, and mountain biking and horse riding.

Things to do in Brittany

Carnac

Carnac is a pretty Breton town with markets, fantastic food shops and lovely street cafes. The surrounding countryside is famous for it’s standing stones, megalithic rock formations that are so old that no one can really agree on exactly how old.

Saint-Malo

St Malo is one of the most important towns in the area. It is a sea port and throughout history has been strategically important for defending the area. The walled part of the town is full of lovely street cafes and that make walking the ramparts a great way to spend the day.

Oceanopolis

A huge maritime themed park with pavilions dedicated to different climate regions in the sea. It also explores biodiversity and will keep you busy all day long. Situated close to Brest transport links are plentiful and included buses and trains.

Mont St Michel

Located just one and a half kilometre from the coast and connected by a causeway Mont St Michel looks like a fairytale come true. Perched on a rocky island in the middle of vast sandbanks is a large Gothic-style Benedictine abbey dedicated to the archangel St Michael. A village grew up in the shadow of the walls between the 11th and 16th centuries and presents some great photo opportunities.

Getting to Brittany

Getting to Brittany is really easy. The vast majority of people will travel to the area via the channel ports. There are great connections with the UK from a number of UK ports including Dover, Folkestone, Newhaven, Weymouth and Plymouth. French ports served include Calais, Dieppe and Cherbourg as well as Le Harvre which puts you within a short journey of Brittany.

Of course there is also the Channel Tunnel which has the benefit of making the crossing under the channel in less than 30 minutes. There is also a small regional airport in Brest bit with all these ferries and channel tunnel crossings why would you bother?