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…

The Golfe du Morbihan, off the southern coast of Brittany, is studded with islands – 42 to be exact. The largest of which is the ?le aux Moines (Monks’ Island). Having glimpsed the island a few days earlier from the Pointe d’Arradon (Brittany’s riviera, which is home to some very posh houses), we were keen to spend the day exploring the almost-enclosed bay and its largest island. We set off for the small, picturesque port of Larmor-Baden (above) shortly after breakfast. There we bought our tickets for the 90-minute boat ride around the gulf, which would drop us off on…

The Basilica of Saint-Denis to the north of Paris has been top of my Parisian bucket list for a good 20 years and I was determined to finally visit it last summer. The magnificent basilica is the resting place of almost all the French kings and queens, with 43 kings, 32 queens and more than 60 minor royals buried within its walls. Name a French monarch or consort and you’ll probably find them in Saint-Denis – Louis XIV, Henri IV (below), Catherine de Medici, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette are among the famous royals laid to rest here. Gruesome legend…