Brittany (Bretagne) is a region of northwestern France, a short trip over the English Channel from Devon, Cornwall and Dorset. Go back to your childhood and I can guarantee either you or one of your friends would spend summers here, I am talking to the British readers here of course.

I spent a huge portion of my childhood here, from the age of 7 months we returned to Brittany every year, sometimes three times! When I was one, my parents bought a house here in the small village of La Foret Foueasnant. We loved that house, and even though when my sisters and I became teenagers we didn’t quite appreciate these trips as much as we should, we wouldn’t have changed these holidays for the anything.

Unfortunately, I really struggle to find much history on the places themselves, with the exception of a few. These towns and villages date back hundreds of years, but as someone told me on Instagram, you need to talk to a local to discover the real background. Brittany was only united with France in 1532.

Brittany has its own distinct Breton culture, many of these traditions can also be found in Cornwall, England, and Wales. The name Brittany (Breizh in Breton) was given to the area by the Romans who named the area Brittania. The area whilst settled in since the Neanderthals arrived, became home to many people from Great Britain who fled both the Roman Empire and later on the Saxon Invasion, hence the similarities between the cultures and language (Celtic).

Below I have chosen 5 of my favourite towns and villages to visit and I hope this inspires you to make your own journey to Bretagne!

Quimper, one of the most well preserved medieval cities in France

I have picked Quimper as my number 1 as I have probably visited this place about 30 times. Not only is this town dotted with delicious creperies but it is rich in history. Quimper is the capital of the Finistere region, the most traditional part of Brittany with distinct Breton Celtic traditions.

The city was originally settled in during the Roman times and today retains a rustic atmosphere with bridges crisscrossing the rivers and a huge cathedral dating back to the eleventh century. Vieux Quimper (the old town) contains a wealth of shops, ice creameries, restaurants and even a market. The half-timbered buildings have created a bright and colourful environment to take a stroll and enjoy goods bought from the local chocolaterie. Another thing this city is well-known for is the famous ‘Quimper Pottery’ which has been in production since the 1700s.

Locronan, a member of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France

I have been to Locronan a couple of times but this was long before I owned a camera. I knew I had to go back this time, and it is just a short drive from Quimper.

This ancient village reminds me somewhat of the Cotswolds, just that the stone is grey rather than honey-coloured. The centre of town is characterised by pretty houses, shops and cafes, and throughout summer it is adorned by beautiful hydrangeas. The village is built upon a selection of hills and if you walk up the right street (turn right when you get to the church front), you will get an amazing view of the town, the countryside beyond, and even the sea.

Unsurprisingly Locronan is part of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (The most beautiful villages of France) association, and in my opinion, is the number one most beautiful town in the whole region!

Vannes, the capital of Morbihan

I used to visit this place when I was younger purely for the butterfly farm and aquarium but now it’s my obsession with oldie worldie buildings that keeps me returning.

Vannes was first settled in over 2,000 years ago and has had strong trading links with Great Britain for many hundreds of years. In 56 BC the Romans invaded the town and slaughtered the local Veneti people (seafaring Celtic people), renaming the city Darioritum. Once the Romans were gone, the city became a principality under the Breton name Gwened and in the 5th century the Diocese of Vannes was established.

The city is similar to Quimper in style, surrounded by city walls the centre is a maze of coloured half-timbered buildings, with ample shops and places to eat.

Dinan, a charming medieval city

You might have noticed all the places I have picked have been on the western coast of Brittany, well here’s a change. Dinan, just south of the walled city of St Malo, is around 30 minutes south of the English Channel.

Dinan is a walled town, and one of the best preserved in Brittany. It is filled with half-timbered buildings (are you seeing a theme in my choices?), cobbled streets, art galleries and craft shops. Just down the hill from the walled town is a pretty port, lined with stone houses and a picturesque 15th century stone bridge. Visitors can take a relaxing river cruise and take in all the sights along the water’s edge.

The old town is my favourite part of the city, I only spent a few hours here but I could definitely go back for a full city break. It is easy to visit Dinan from the UK, you can catch a ferry from Poole to St Malo and then drive into town or catch the train.

If you want to head straight to the prettiest part of town then make your way down to the Rue du Petit Fort. This is a steep hill so if you have any walking difficulties then please be careful as it is also very uneven under foot. Not only are the buildings stunning at each turn but it is full to the brim with beautiful craft shops and galleries.

Rochefort-en-Terre, a step back in time

It was thanks to one of my Instagram followers that I found this place, it is one of the most charming villages I have ever been visited. When I arrived into the village I felt as though I had stepped straight onto the set of Beauty and the Beast. Rochefort-en-Terre is a designated “Petite Cité de Caractére”.

The town is flower heaven, many of the houses are covered by hydrangeas and geraniums making it all the more stunning. Rochefort-en-Terre is 35km east from Vannes so if you schedule your day right, you could squeeze both stops into one day. The town showcases a range of different architectural styles including half-timbered houses, gothic monuments, Renaissance hotels, and 19th-century buildings, the common denominator is that the majority of it is made from local stone.

So that’s a wrap! These are just 5 of many beautiful places… so watch this space as I took a lot of photos and I think each stop deserves its own post!