Brittany Online Travel Guide
Brittany, where you can enjoy the chestnut
11-01-2023 © Doris Leone
Online Travel Guide
Have you ever thought about the delicious chestnuts you can eat and make? In a certain region of Brittany, you can find several chestnut trees. In addition to these chestnuts, you have a beautiful nature with gigantic beaches and an ice-cold sea. Go exploring and visit picturesque villages, make stunning nature hikes and walk through walled cities. As the weather is unpredictable in Brittany, you can easily combine different activities during your trip.
My mother and I together made a wonderful trip through Brittany. We stayed at one place because it was easy to combine these places in one day. Have a look at my Brittany online travel guide!
Stops along the way
Le Mont Saint Michel
It depends on where you are from, but when getting here by car, make sure to stop at this place. We made a beautiful stop at Le Mont Saint Michel, which really looks like a fairy tale castle. It is not without reason that this wonderful castle is on the UNESCO list. It has been discovered by many tourists, so it will probably not be quiet there. Be sure to wear sturdy shoes, because there are plenty of stairs to climb.
Saint-Malo
If you would like to spend the night near Le Mont Saint Michel, do not skip Saint-Malo. This lovely port city is about an hour’s drive away, but is so special. The still old walkable city walls separate the beach from the port, which you can stroll towards the old centre.
Climate in Brittany
When you are heading to Brittany in the summer, you will find out that the weather is pleasant, the temperatures are generally around 20 degrees. Occasionally, there is a cloudy day, but there are also marvellous summer days with plenty of sunshine. In the winter, it cools down to about 10 degrees during the day.
Seawater?
Because this part of France is situated mainly at the Atlantic Ocean, the water temperature is generally quite cool. On a hot day, it is amazing, you will really cool off and aside from that, cold water is very good for you. Have you ever thought of finishing your shower by turning off the hot water? It is not that bad, and that is why this hero’s jump into the water is a great idea.
The chestnut
Between the villages of Pont l’Abbé and Combrit, you will find several astonishing chestnut trees, some of them have been here for a very long time, probably up to 1,000 years old. Whatever the season, the chestnut trees will always have their charm, but if you are there in October, the chestnuts are ripe, and you may still be able to pick them up from the ground. Chestnuts can also be used to make delicious French dishes, such as crème de marron (chestnut cream) or a French chestnut soup.
Beautiful places of the Brittany online travel guide
In Brittany, you have a lot of picturesque places that you can combine in one day by car. Explore the different places in a logical order from the area where you are staying. We stayed in Audierne and from here we visited among others: Pont-Aven, Concarneau, Crozon, Saint-Hernot & Carnac.
Pont-Aven
Speaking of picturesque, Pont-Aven definitely is. With its picturesque houses, lovely little bridges, the river Aven and its lovely harbour, this is one of the most adorable places in Brittany. Make a nice walk through the town and further hiking areas which can be started from here.
Concarneau
If you visit Concarneau, you will enjoy the contrasts it has to offer. The modern centre, the stunning coastlines and the walled city situated in the harbour. This walled city, called La Ville Close, is amazing to see and dates from the 15th century. You are not the only one who visits this place, it is quite touristy and nowadays, many shops and restaurants are located here.
Audierne
Audierne is a nice harbour town where you can eat delicious fish in one of the local restaurants or at a fishmonger’s. There is a weekly market in the centre, where you can buy delicious local products. Besides the port, Audierne also has a large beach where you can take a refreshing dip in the sea. Furthermore, go and look for the mussels that you can find on the beach here.
Crozon & Saint-Hernot
The area of Crozon & Saint-Hernot is elegant whenever the weather is cloudy, as when the sun is shining. Here, you can make beautiful walks along the cliffs that offer magnificent views over the turquoise sea. There are nice bays where you can spend a day relaxing in this charming area. Looking for a varied nature with rough landscape? You will find it over here in different colour contrasts.
Carnac
A wonderful prehistoric experience is what you can find in the town of Carnac, where you will see the oldest structures in Europe. There are a lot of monuments, such as megaliths (several stones together) and dolmens. These were built around 5,000 BC and are probably connected to shamanistic rituals. These rituals include the sun and the moon, and the stones most likely served for some kind of calendar at that time.
In addition, there are a number of enchanting villages in this Brittany online travel guide which you cannot miss, should you have the time. They are, among others: La Roche-Bernard, which consists of two parts, the old part and the new part which lays higher up. The two parts can be reached by an old steep staircase. Rochefort-en-Terre is again a picturesque place with historical buildings, where you can make beautiful hikes.
Wonderful beaches?
Carnac Plage
As mentioned before, Carnac is a special place, but it also has a beach, which is about 3 kilometres away. The sea is very shallow here, even half a kilometre into the water you are still standing on the bottom.
Plage de l'île Vierge
Near the town of Crozon, as previously indicated, you will find a breathtaking nature reserve, with nice bays. One of them is Plage de l’île Vierge, which looks like a little paradise, with its eye stunning cliffs along the clear sea. It is not easy to reach, as the route is via steep, rocky paths.
Plage du Ris
In the northwest of the big city Quimper, you will find the Plage du Ris. In a splendid natural area, between the typical French old houses, you will find a beautiful sandy beach. If there are good waves, surfers can enjoy the waves here.
Plage de Treguenec
A fantastic, long sandy beach, can be found near the town of Treguenec. Where you can also find bunkers from the Second World War. It is a huge beach, with enough space to lie down for a day. When there is more wind on a day, you can easily head out to the dunes and enjoy the warm sun, with not too much wind.
