With its winding medieval streets, colourful timber-framed houses and handsome stone buildings, the old Breton capital Vannes (or Gwened in Breton) has bags of character, great shopping and lots of photogenic buildings. Originally named Darioritum, the charming market town, which sits at the mouth of the rivers Marle and Vincin, has a long history. It was founded by the Romans and became the capital of Brittany in the Middle Ages. Today, it’s the capital of the Morbihan region. The town’s medieval centre is surrounded by imposing walls, which are studded with towers and gates, and while some stretches no longer…

The Presqu’?le de Quiberon is a 14km-long slither of land on the southern coast of Brittany. Boasting a wild, rugged coastline, attractive resorts and pristine beaches, the narrow peninsula is attached to the Breton mainland by a small sandbank, the Isthme de Penthièvre. We drove down to the Presqu’?le de Quiberon after spending the morning touring the megalithic sights of Carnac. Our first stop on the peninsula was the evocative C?te Sauvage (Wild Coast, below) on its south-western tip. The 8km-stretch of rocky coastline is breathtakingly beautiful and it was exhilarating standing atop the cliffs watching the tempestuous waves crash…

Of the many sights to see in Brittany, perhaps the most famous (and mysterious) of all are the megalithic standing stones at Carnac. The prehistoric site is centred around three clusters of stones, or menhirs as they’re also known, not far from the small town of Carnac. We began our visit at the largest of the three sites – the Alignements du Ménec, a group of 1,099 standing stones, laid out in 11 rows on the outskirts of Carnac. Across the road from the menhirs, there’s a visitor centre where you can look out over the site from its first…

When Benjamin Franklin set foot on French soil in December 1776 to seek support in the American War of Independence, he came ashore in the tiny Breton port of Saint Goustan. Situated on the banks of the River Loch, adjoining the town of Auray, Saint Goustan is a delightful, picturesque affair. With a cobbled quayside lined with colourful timber-fronted houses, it’s a suitably charming spot for an influential American founding father/writer/politician/inventor/all-round-genius to disembark. Unlike Benjamin Franklin, we ambled into Saint Goustan on foot via a path along the river (above) and as we approached the centre of the medieval port…

The friendly town of Le Bono, on the banks of the River Auray, was the place we called home during our week-long sojourn in Brittany. With a number of shops and restaurants, a superb patisserie, a couple of intriguing sights, and lots of interesting walking trails, it proved to be an excellent place in which to base ourselves. The day we arrived, we inadvertently stumbled upon a Breton festival taking place in the harbour (above). Delighted by the sights, smells and sounds of the festival, we had great fun marvelling at the boats decked out in colourful bunting and listening…

The picturesque port of Roscoff on Brittany’s northern coast is the perfect introduction to France’s westernmost region. Famous for its pink onions (the Roscoff onion) and the Johnny Onions who cross the channel to sell them from their bicycles, Roscoff boasts elegant grey stone buildings, a lovely and unusual church, and a charming high street. We arrived in the small port bright and early on a Saturday morning on the overnight ferry from Plymouth. Parking our car in one of the side streets near the town centre, we set off for a short stroll along the shorefront, stopping at a…

A land of rugged coastlines, lush forests and picturesque towns and villages, Brittany stands out among the French regions for its spectacular scenery, unique culinary traditions and ancient Celtic roots. There’s a wild spirit to the land and a strong sense of otherwordliness, which is enhanced by the many prehistoric standing stones (below) and burial grounds that abound in the region. Occupying the north-westernmost point of France, the region was an independent duchy until the 15th century, when Anne, Duchess of Brittany, married the French king Charles VIII, followed by his successor Louis XII. It officially became part of France…