Camping in Brittany, the definitive bitesize guide to the region

Camping in Brittany, the definitive bitesize guide to the region - Part 1

Brittany is a very popular destination; the region's love affair with British people has been longstanding. In Part 1 of this article I explore the reasons why the region is so attractive to us and if you haven't experienced it so far, try to convince you that staying on one of Brittany's many great campsites and go camping in Brittany, is the best way for you to soak up everything this region has to offer.

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. Le Musée de Préhistoire, 10 place de l'Église, uses more than 6,000 prehistoric items to create a vivid picture of the people who may have erected the stones. 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. The mound, 12m (40ft) high, 125m (400ft) long and 60m (200ft) wide, is thought to date from around 4500bc. There are many campsites near Carnac, but my recommendation would be La Grande Metairie campsite.

Brest
Brest is one of France's 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. Océanopolis 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. Inland from Océanopolis, on the Allée du Bot, the Conservatoire Botanique National de Brest is a fine botanical garden. The Musée des Beaux-Arts, at 24 rue Traverse, is noted for its collection of works from the Pont-Aven school. The Château, at the tip of the old town, has commanding views along the Rade de Brest and inland along the Elorn river. 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. Just offshore are the Sept-Îles, among France's best bird reserves. Don't miss out on the town beaches 'Plage de Trestraou and Plage de Trestrignel and the scenic coastal paths are superb. The area plays host to some of France's best campsites, including Le Ranolien in Perros-Guirec.

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. The best places to see the rocks lie between Trébeurden in the west and Paimpol in the east. There is no easy-to-follow driving route. Instead, mazes of narrow lanes carry you past tiny settlements to high, windblown promontories such as Pointe du Château or Le Gouffre. Don't miss the stretch around Ploumanac'h which is good for walking, with the added benefit that you are never too far from a good restaurant at Ploumanac'h or Perros-Guirec.

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 and across to the Île-de-Sein are breathtaking. You can't drive to the tip, but you can park at a welcome area with exhibition space, cafés 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.

Article Source: TravelFreeGuides.com

About the Author

Will Goodridge is an online marketing consultant helping travel companies make the most of selling holidays online. Will Goodridge also has a passion for travelling and particularly enjoys holidays in France with his family. The website in the article helps you find the best places for camping holidays in France.

by: wgoodridge

Total views: 0 Word Count: 1099 Date: Thu, 5 May 2011 Time: 3:53 PM - 0 comments

Publish/Share this article

To use this article on your site click here to get the HTML code |
Remember: The article body, title, author bio and links may not be changed or removed. By publishing this article, you agree to all the terms in our Terms of Service.

Rating: Not yet rated