RENNES, 15 JUN - Brittany opens up to tourism and focuses on nature, the great outdoors and gastronomy: the region in the extreme northwest of France, rich in contrasts and beauty, offers holidays in freedom on foot, by bicycle or by boat along the canals, off the beaten track. The absolute protagonist is the sea with 2,730 kilometers of coastline - from Saint-Malo to La Baule - dotted with islets, beaches, nature reserves, rivers and over 80 lighthouses, one more beautiful than the other and in some cases open to unforgettable stays. Among the most striking are the stone lighthouse of the Virgin Island in Plouguerneau, the highest in Europe and in the world, with its spiral staircase of 365 steps and walls covered with blue opal; the Saint-Mathieu lighthouse emerging from the ruins of aancient abbey in Plougonvelin and which offers a breathtaking view from the Pointe du Raz to the island of Ouessant. Finally, there is the Stiff lighthouse, on the island of Ouessant, in operation since 1700, which is the oldest Breton lighthouse still in operation.
There are numerous thematic itineraries to discover on foot and by bicycle to venture among the panoramic corners, the castles, the small villages, the educational farms for children and the thalassotherapy centers that have made the region famous all over the world. There are also itineraries linked to gastronomy, made to discover the territory and a world of flavors inspired by the sea and the land: oysters, scallops, artichokes; but also buckwheat, the black gold of Brittany, and confectionery specialties such as salted butter caramel, to be enjoyed in small bistros or in starred restaurants.
Another alternative and suggestive way to discover the Breton territory is through the canals, in a network of 600 kilometers between woods and small villages to be covered in total relaxation. There are also sporting proposals related to the sea - from canoeing to windsurfing - and those on two wheels; for bicycle lovers, moreover, there is a very popular event: the start of the Tour de France on June 26th right from Brest, which will be followed by four other Breton stages until June 29th (PerrosGuirec-Mur de Bretagne; Loirent- Pointivy; Redon-Fougères). Retracing the stages of the Tour is a beautiful experience but there are 9 other great routes on cycle paths and green roads that cross the entire territory: these are 2 thousand kilometers of marked itineraries for a discovery in freedom, along the rivers and canals,along the Gulf of Morbihan and through the massifs of the Mounts d'Arrée.
Among the numerous thematic itineraries in Brittany - the way of the lighthouses, the path of the customs officers or GR © 34, the legend of Merlin, thalassotherapy - the most evocative remains the one on the traces of painters: from the mid-nineteenth century the light and colors of the sea, gardens and elegant villas were a source of inspiration for many artists. The coast of Dinard, Saint-Enogat and Saint-Briac attracted painters such as Eugène Isabey, Emile Bernard, Paul Signac and Henri Rivière. In Pont Aven a group of Symbolist artists, led by Paul Gauguin, founded the school of the same name characterized by a new expressive language. Claude Monet painted the cathedral of Rouen and the beauty of Belle- × le-en-mer, the largest and most evocative of the Breton islands with its ancient charm, lush nature, white beaches, expanses of gorse,the picturesque villages and the lighthouses guarding the coast. Henri Matisse was also fascinated with his passion for color, paving the way for Fauvism, while in the summer of 1922 Pablo Picasso settled with his family at Villa Beauregard, in Dinard. Finally, there is no shortage of art routes, from large museums to street art murals.
Rennes is the starting point for visiting Brittany: here are the traditional medieval half-timbered houses and the majestic cathedral. The Parc du Thabor, the Musée des Beaux-arts with works by Botticelli, Rubens and Picasso and the Espace des Sciences with the planetarium are also worth a visit. There are many other destinations, all to be discovered with slow walks: the corsair city of Saint-Malò with the greatest tides in Europe on the Emerald Coast; the majestic Cap Fréhel and d'Erquy; the famous and spectacular pink granite coast of Morlaix bay; the wild and authentic Quimper Cornouaille, French Cornwall. And, again, the viewpoint at St-Benoît-des-Ondes; Carnac and its megaliths; the area of Kalon Breizh, the heart of Breton culture; the Brest Terres Océanes, the largest bay in Europe with islands,beaches, cliffs and the many water sports that can be practiced there. There is also the Golfe du Morbihan, the small inland sea full of beauty in southern Brittany; the magical forest of Paimpont, also known as Brocéliande, and the immense spaces and endless sandy beaches of the Loire Océan.
For more information and to organize the trip: www.bretagna-vacanze.com and france.fr.