A Guide to the Departments in Brittany, France

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By Natasha Wright


The Brittany region is situated in the Northwest corner of France and contains 4 departments stretching from Ille et Vilaine in the east to Finistere in the west.
The region covers a massive area of 27,208km2 which is the equivalent of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Hampshire and Kent - almost the size of the South of England with a population half the size at only 3 million! This means that the area is mostly unspoilt countryside and traditional French towns. With over 2730kms (1600 miles) of coastline, Brittany has the longest stretch of coast in France dotted with historic harbours, beautiful beaches and dramatic clifftops.

Brittany has a long Celtic history with outstanding megalithic monuments including one of the largest megalithic sites in the world. You can read more about Brittany's rich history on the Guide2Brittany History of Brittany.
With such a large area, it is no surprise that the departments have different cultures and landscapes. Here you will find a brief description of each department, a link to a separate article for each and a link to all articles that refer to a particular department.
Finistere
The Finistere department consists of a rugged landscape made up of breathtaking granite moorland. The area has a mild climate which is ideal for agriculture and farming and for enjoying the many outdoor activities the area has to offer.
The largest city is Brest home to the huge marine park Oceanolpois, whilst the coast has lots of lovely fishing ports such as Douarnenez and Concarneau. For the nature lover Ouessant Island and the Molène Archipelago are ideal.
Cotes d'Armor
This low lying region benefits from a pretty rocky coast with lots of small islands. Both the stunning Emerald Coast and the Pink Granite Coast are renowned for both their beaches and its seafood - the region is the largest European producer of scallops. Cotes d'Armor has something for everyone. Visit Dinan to explore its ancient castles, Saint Brieuc in September for its traditional music festival or Trestraou for some great walks.
Morbihan
The department of Morbihan is in the south of Brittany. It enjoys a mild climate and has lots of sandy beaches and fishing ports to explore. Morbihan is also the home to numerous menhirs and dolmen including one of the largest megalithic sites in world at Carnac. Visit the city of Vannes to get a taste of medieval character and don't miss the giant market at Auray.
Ille et Vilaine
The department of Ille et Vilaine is diverse with a heavy agriculture influence. There is so much to explore - enjoying the long stretch of Emerald Coast, cycling along more than 700km of cyclepaths or exploring a vast network of waterways covering over 5000km.
Other treasures of Ille et Vilaine include Saint Malo and its ancient walled city, Rennes for great shopping or Dinard for golf.
Natasha Wright is the Owner Editor of http://www.guide2brittany.com Guide2Brittany is the essential English language guide to the Brittany region of North West France. Guide2Brittany features property for sale in Brittany, property for rent in Brittany, holiday accommodation - gites, campsites, hotels in Brittany, Brittany classifieds, events and whats on Brittany, Brittany regional news and a vast information center for both Brittany and France. Guide2Brittany is perfect for residents of Brittany, property hunters, holidays makers and anyone who love the Breton region!

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