Road Map Brittany (AA Touring Map France 01): No. 1

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During the Second World War, the historic center ( Vieille Ville) of Saint-Malo was largely destroyed, except for the old walls; the Château de Saint-Malo, which dates to the 14th and 15th centuries; and the Cathédrale Saint-Vincent, which was founded in the 12th century. The Veneti, who lived in the present Morbihan département and gave their name to the city of Vannes. Despite confusion by the classical scholar Strabo, they were unrelated to the Adriatic Veneti. A French map of the traditional regions of Brittany in Ancien Régime France. The earlier state of Domnonia or Domnonée that united Brittany comprised the counties along the north coast Immigration of the Britons [ edit ] Many distinctive traditions and customs have also been preserved in Brittany. Among them, the " Pardons" are one of the most traditional demonstrations of popular Catholicism. These penitential ceremonies occur in some villages in Lower Brittany on the feast day of the parish's saint. The penitents form a procession and they walk together to a shrine, a church or any sacred place. Some Pardons are reputed for their length, and they all finish by large meals and popular feasts. Visitors may begin a sightseeing tour of Nantes' top attractions in the historic center at the Château des Ducs de Bretagne (Castle of the Dukes of Brittany), founded in the 15th century by Francois II, one of the last Breton rulers. Surrounded by parkland, this enormous fortress has all the essentials of a medieval castle: a moat, imposing towers, and sturdy defensive walls. Château des Ducs de Bretagne

Visitors can begin a walking tour at the Place de la Mairie to admire the Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall), built in 1734. West of the Place de la Mairie is the Eglise Saint-Sauveur, a lovely church built from the 17th to the 18th centuries. East of the Town Hall is the Place du Parlement de Bretagne encircled by 18th-century houses.Surrounded by a tree-shaded parkland, the Château de Rochefort-en-Terre has all the elements of a medieval castle. However, it's actually a 17th-century horse stables that was updated in the 20th century. (The ruins of the original château are found on the grounds.) This quintessential Breton port is a former island near the mainland. Designed as a citadel, Saint-Malo boasts well-preserved medieval fortifications that lend a distinctive character to the city. Football, cycling and sailing are the three most popular sports in Brittany. Major football teams are the FC Nantes, the Stade Rennais F.C., the FC Lorient, the Stade Brestois 29, the Vannes OC and the En Avant de Guingamp. Professional footballers coming from the region also form the Brittany national football team which sometimes plays with national teams. In response, the Diwan schools were founded in 1977 to teach Breton by immersion. They have taught a few thousand young people from elementary school to high school, and they have gained more fame owing to their high level of results in school exams. [52] Napoleon reorganised the French education system in 1808. He created new universities and invented two secondary education institutions: the "collèges" and the "lycées" which were opened in numerous towns to educate boys and form a new elite. A new University of Rennes was progressively recreated during the 19th century.

Brittany, apart from some areas such as Lorient, Nantes and Saint-Nazaire, has never been heavily industrialised. Today, fishing and agriculture remain important activities. Brittany has more than 40,000 farms, mostly oriented towards cattle, pig and poultry breeding, as well as cereal and vegetable production. The number of farms tends to diminish, but as a result, they are merged into very large estates. Brittany is the first producer in France for vegetables ( green beans, onions, artichokes, potatoes, tomatoes...). Cereals are mostly grown for cattle feeding. Wine, especially muscadet, is made in a small region south of Nantes. Brittany is the first region in France for fishing. The activity employs around 15,000 people, and more than 2500 firms work in fish and seafood processing. [54] [55] A fishing trawler from Le Guilvinec The Armorican Massif reaches its maximum elevation outside of Brittany, in neighbouring Mayenne, at 417 m, and slopes towards the west before straightening on its western extremity, with the Montagnes Noires and the Monts d'Arrée. The highest hill in Brittany is the Roc'h Ruz in the Monts d'Arrée, at 385m (1,263ft). It is closely followed by several neighbouring hills culminating at around 384 m above sea level. [42] The island has three smaller villages. The village of Bangor, on the Côte Sauvage (wildest part of the island), was founded in the 6th century by British monks. Picturesque farmlands surround Locmaria, a rural township on the highest part of the island. Sauzon is a little fishing village with narrow streets and a thriving marina in its well-sheltered harbor. Economy [ edit ] RMS Queen Mary 2, once the world's largest passenger ship, was built in Saint-Nazaire.

The Gallo community is estimated at between 28,300 [74] and 200,000 [73] speakers. The language is taught on a non-compulsory basis in some schools, high-schools and universities, particularly in Ille-et-Vilaine. [73] Religion [ edit ] Sculpted " calvaries" can be found in many villages in Lower Brittany. The museum requires an entry fee, while the château gardens and rampart walk are open to the public for free. The Château des Ducs de Bretagne also has a crêperie restaurant, La Fraiseraie, that specializes in crêpes (both savory and sweet), as well as frozen desserts (sorbet and ice cream) made with seasonal ingredients sourced from local farms. The château's bookstore sells souvenirs, toys, special regional candies, and books about the history of the castle and the city.