Holiday homes & rentals in Brittany

Brittany is the westernmost region of France and is divided into four sub-regions: Finistère, Cotes d'Armor, Morbihan and Ille-et-Vilaine. With a classic Brittany gîte, you have the opportunity to explore the different parts of these sub-regions, depending on which of them you choose. Although each of them has its own atmosphere, Brittany is a destination that has everything in one place: beautiful beaches, historic towns, good food, plenty of opportunities to practice sports, activities for children and a lively night life.

Getting to your Brittany accommodation

Brittany is only a few hours west of Paris. There are a few airports serving the region that you can choose from depending on the proximity to your Brittany gîte. Visitors coming from Great Britain or Ireland also have the option to take a ferry into one of the two ports of entry.

Treat yourself! The delights of Brittany in your vacation rental

Brittany offers an exceptional setting for your next vacation rental. If your eyes will be delighted, your taste buds will not be left out. You are bound to find a crêperie not far from your gite, ready to treat you to its specialties. Sweet or savory, with salted butter caramel, ham or more original ingredients, the pancakes and galettes of la Potion Magique in Carnac, for example, will delight gourmands. Strolling the cobbled streets of Saint-Malo, the Grain Noir creperie with authentic, local and organic flavors is an excellent idea for a lunch or a delicious snack.

But there are not only crepes in Brittany, by opting for a vacation rental near the sea, you will have no excuse not to taste the Breton specialties based on fish and shellfish. Passing through Roscoff for example, the restaurant La Bonne Étoile is the perfect place to indulge in a platter of shrimp, lobster, oysters or a Breton-style fish dish. In Ploumanac'h, the restaurantLa Cotriade has made the specialty of the same name, its main asset. Cooked in the tradition, this Breton bouillabaisse is unmissable for all fish lovers.

Farmers' markets are a good opportunity to discover local specialties, while strolling near your vacation rental. In Dinard, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, take time to browse the stalls and end your morning with a traditional galette-saucisses accompanied by a glass of cider. The Halles du XVIe siècle in Questembert on Monday morning, the fish market in Lorient, open every day, or the one in Saint-Renan (on Saturday morning) with its 300 exhibitors, are all options to fill your basket. Then, all that will be left for you to do is to settle down comfortably at the table of your gite or your vacation rental to taste the foodstuffs skillfully chosen on the stalls of the producers.

What is the climate in Brittany ?

Contrary to all the preconceived notions about Brittany, the climate is not so rainy, it even rains less than in the south of France! Brittany enjoys a very temperate climate, so it's never too cold, never too hot.

Some Breton nooks and crannies benefit from particularly mild microclimates, such as the beautiful island of Brehat or the very typical Bigouden country.

Whatever place you decide to stay, you will benefit from a great bowl of iodine thanks to the sea air!

A land of legends to discover

Having benefited from a strong Celtic influence, the history of Brittany is made of myths. From King Arthur to the forest of Broceliande, let your imagination be lulled to discover enchanting landscapes.

1. Megaliths at Carnac

Go to Carnac to admire the alignments of megaliths, among the most impressive in existence.

2. Paimpont Forest

More commonly known as the forest of Broceliande, which inspired the legend of the Kings of the Round Table. You may catch a glimpse of Merlin the Enchanter's shadow at the bend in a rock...

3. Belle-Île-en-Mer

Brittany is also rich in islands, each more beautiful than the last. Fall in love with Belle-Île like Sarah Bernhardt, who owned a house on the Pointe des Poulains remarkable for its coves and steep cliffs.

4. Glénan Archipelago and the islands of the Gulf of Morbihan

Cruise for a few hours and sail between the many islands of the Gulf of Morbihan, including the famous Île-aux-Moines. Finally, don't miss the Glénan archipelago, whose waters are such a clear turquoise that it has sometimes been nicknamed the Breton Tahiti.

5. Saint-Malo

You can dream about 18th-century privateers during a walk atop the city walls.

Party in Brittany : the fest-noz

Fest-noz

Inescapable during a stay in Brittany, fest-noz ("night party" in Breton) are the ideal type of event to dive into the heart of Breton culture. The fest-noz was in fact recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2012.

During fest-noz, Bretons dance to the rhythm of traditional music from the region, played by local groups. It is an opportunity to discover instruments of Celtic inspiration: biniou, bombarde, clarinet, accordion... and to risk dancing all together! And as all this opens the appetite, taste the Breton far, a kind of clafoutis with prunes or, if you are not afraid of butter, opt for a slice of kouign-amann!

Event in August

In a slightly different genre, do not miss, if you travel in August, the Interceltic Festival of Lorient. Every year, great bands and musicians playing Celtic-inspired music are invited there, and everyone can watch the Celtic parade pass by. If you want to be sure to find a vacation rental, don't hesitate to book in advance.

Day trips around Brittany

Your Brittany gîte will be the perfect base for day trips into the surrounding cities, towns and countryside. You will have lots of interesting destinations to choose from.

Rennes, the capital of the region, has a vibrant art scene with contemporary works scattered through town and has some very impressive museums, such as the Museum of Fine Arts of Rennes. In Carnac, the thousands of neolithic megaliths are a mysterious location worth visiting, while its seaside resort offers relaxing spa treatments at the Thalassotherapy centre.

In Quimper, take time to stroll through the city centre, soaking in the atmosphere of streets filled with timbered buildings, explore the impressive Gothic Cathedral and visit one of the many shops selling traditional Quimper ceramics, which are handmade and hand painted locally for the perfect souvenir.

Of course, by choosing a Brittany holiday cottage, you will find yourself surrounded by sea, as the region is a peninsula and thus there are many superb beaches to choose from. The Emerald coast, surrounding Saint-Malo and stretching through 120km, has many pleasant beaches perfect for swimming, sailing and sunbathing. The town of Perros Guirrec has excellent bathing beaches, spas aplenty and casinos. The perfect combination: relaxing during the day will let you get ready for that added excitement in the evenings.

The famous Mt. St Michel, with its splendid abbey and fortified town sits atop a small mountainous island that is connected to the shore by a causeway. It is quite an interesting place and is surely worth a day trip. It's only around 60km from Rennes or 54km from Saint-Malo, in the neighbouring region of Normandy.

Self-catering in your Brittany gîte

After your arrival at your Brittany holiday cottage, it is time to get all the essentials. The region has three main supermarket chains: Carrefour, Intermarche and E. Leclerc. In addition, every Saturday one of the best farmer's markets in France is hosted in Rennes. This is the perfect opportunity to buy fresh, local and seasonal produce including seafood and stock up for the days ahead.

Brittany - Rugged Land of Ancient Celts

Pointe de Pen-Hir

Located to the south-west of Camaret-sur-Mer, this promontory has 70m high cliffs and offers sea views that reach as far as the headland across the ocean bay.

Quimper Cathedral

The Cathedral of Saint Corentin of Quimper is a 13th c. gothic structure, surrounded by narrow old streets, and filled with beautiful stained glass windows and atmospheric side-chapels.

Great Aquariam Saint-Malo

Home to 11.000 marine animals, the aquariam highlights different ocean ecosystems, such as the abyssal ocean zone at a depth of 3000m to 5000m below sea level where jellyfish, crabs and anemones live.

Carnac Stones

This dense collection of megalithic stones, such as menhirs and dolmens which were used to build structures in prehistoric times lie near the village of Carnac in the south of Brittany.

Pointe du Grouin

A rugged bay with breathtaking sea views, this headland in the north of Brittany looks out over the Mont Saint Michel, just 25km away.

Frequently Asked Questions