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2016
Brittany tourism / Comité régional du tourisme de Bretagne1 rue Raoul Ponchon
35069 Rennes cedex, FranceTel. +33 (0)2 99 28 44 30tourismebretagne.com
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Press contactCeline BaddeT : +44 (0)2392 402984M : +44 (0)7769 858 019
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Find out morewww.brittanytourism.com/ideas/brittany-experiences
Top places to stay Experience something unique just across the Channel
On the Pink Granite Coast, when night falls, the Mil-liau island could be yours. A timeless journey just a 10 minute walk from the continent.
Looking for an adventure just like Robinson Crusoe’s story? In Northern Brittany, you can walk to Milliau is-land on foot at low tide. When the evening tide comes in, day visitors return to the mainland, leaving you alone on Milliau, with a fantastic feeling of freedom and isolation. With the island to yourself, you have the whole night ahead to explore every small cor-ner of the islands 23 hectares of unspoilt nature, to swim, or simply relax in this tranquil setting. Expect beautiful sea views, a fascinating panorama of little rocks and islets, and an exceptional array of wildlife - 275 species of plant have been recorded here. And when the fun is over, you can retreat to your friendly gîte, an ancient 16th century farmhouse.
“In the skin of Robinson Crusoe on Milliau island” is one of the Brittany Experiences arranged by the Brittany Tourist Board. This hand-picked selection of unique activities offer visitors the opportunity to dis-cover the real Brittany and the hidden gems off the beaten track.
Brittany Experience from €20 /person, including one night in one of the 3 gîtes (maximum capacity of 17 people in total). Accommodation in gîtes is simple, but characterful and picturesque, with W.C and shower in a separate hut.
With more than 1,700 miles of coastline, Brittany is lined by lighthouses, but only the Kerbel lighthouse offers you to stay in the octagonal glass lantern room itself.
Observing the changing light over Quiberon Bay, 25m high perched in your cosy studio flat with breathta-king 360° panoramic views, is an experience of a li-fetime! This legendary accommodation also features a heated swimming pool, a steam room and private garden to complete the haven of tranquility.
Escape with your other half, or come along with frien-ds and family - the lighthouse keeper’s house can accomodate up to 6 people – and explore the beauti-ful port of Port-Louis and its impressive Citadel.
1-night B&B stay for 2 people: €600 (from Septem-ber to April). Self cathering holiday accommodation for up to 6 people: €2,350 /week (from May to Au-gust)
Own an island for a night (without breaking the bank!)
Sleep at the top of a lighthouse
Find out morewww.brittanytourism.com/ideas/brittany-experiences
Find out morewww.pharedekerbel.com
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Nestled in 40 hectares of carefully preserved natu-ral surroundings, on the outskirts of the beautiful medieval town of Dinan, the Domaine Arvor offers guests an authentic glamping experience with its eco-friendly Gallic Hut perched in the trees.
Staying in a hut doesn’t mean giving up the comforts of fine bed linen and a cosy interior! The thatched-roof hut’s 3m diameter bulls-eye window offers a magnifi-cent countryside panorama, and there’s even a private outdoor hot tub for moonlight bathing. What better place than a Gallic style hut in the land of Astérix? Did you know Brittany is the home of Astérix the Gaul,
his band of merry men, and their exploits against Ro-man invaders, as detailed in the much-loved cartoon books?
One-night B&B from €250 for two people, two-night B&B from €320 for two people, additional €35 per extra person. The Gallic Hut can accommodate up to five people.
Find out morewww.domaine-arvor.com
Find out morewww.kerledan.com
Find out morewww.miramarcrouesty.com
A luxury liner-themed hotel for a wellness escape
Go glamping in an Astérix-style wooden hut
Charm and tradition in central Brittany
In April 2015, 25 years after its inauguration on the Rhuys peninsula, the Miramar reopened its doors after six months of complete refurbishment. The 5-star hotel with a distinctive liner architecture facing the ocean has just been given a second life.
Located at the entrance of the Morbihan Gulf, the Miramar Crouesty houses 100 truly luxurious rooms and 13 suites, a renowned thalassotherapy center and a first-class spa offering a selection of massages and spa treatments, some of which are unique to the Miramar. From detox and fitness programs to the superb heated panoramic sea-water swimming pool, the Miramar is a wellness destination par ex-cellence to revitalise yourself. Luxury, privacy and peace reign here, with the ocean tranquillity and beautiful scenery urges you to relax and unwind.
Double room from €180. Wellness short breaks from €200.
Built for a Breton noblesman in the late 15th cen-tury, the relaxed characterful country house is surrounded by peaceful, lush gardens and is a haven of tranquility in central Brittany.
You’ll instantly be enchanted by the manor’s romantic snug feel, with beige sofas that blend beautifully with the ivory-coloured whitewashed walls in the lounge, and the exposed beams and stonework. This delight-ful decor continues into the four cosy double rooms, which feature antique furniture. Good food has always been a tradition at the Manoir de Kerlédan, with tenant farmers producing milk, butter and cider in the 19th and 20th centuries. Now, breakfast and dinner are enviable opportunities to sample locally sourced produces, such as the garden vegetables, organic cheeses and home-made jams! In mid-July, music-lovers can head to the Vieilles Charrues Festi-
val nearby. In 2016, the renowned pop music festival will be celebrating its 25th anniversary, so expect it to be something truly special.
1-night B&B stay for two people from €99.
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Did you know you could fly direct to Rennes from London, Manchester, Southampton, Exeter, Dublin and Cork? Discover a lively city at the forefront of contemporary art, music and food with a fascinating mix of eclectic architecture, historical grand squares and glorious gardens.
City break in Rennes
Brittany’s capital city has a fantastic artistic and cultural calendar! In 2016, Rennes will be the Bre-ton capital of contemporary art. Les Frères Bou-roullec (the Bouroullec brothers) invest the city’s three major exhibition sites, the Champs Libres museum celebrates its 10th anniversary, the Bien-nale of Contemporary Art returns for its 5th edi-tion, and ‘Aître Voyages’ will show you the artistic treasures hidden in the Streets of Rennes.
From March to August 2016, the Champs Libres, the FRAC Bretagne and the Parliament of Brittany bring together an exhibition dedicated to two major figures of international design: Ronan and Erwan Bouroul-lec. In recent years, several monographic exhibitions have been devoted to their work: «Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec» at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (2004), “Bivouac” at the Museum of Contem-porary Art in Chicago (2012-2013), and “Momentané” at the Arts Décoratifs museum, Paris (2013).
Rennes knows how to party! Look out for Les Tom-bées de la Nuit festival in July; a melting pot of crea-tive expression with street performance and shows in quirky locations. Or the Transmusicales winter festival showcasing tomorrow’s big-name artists, literally THE music festival for those in the know...
Rennes is a brilliant destination for foodies too! The Place des Lices Saturday morning market is one of France’s finest and the city is at the forefront of the ‘Bistronomie’ trend – a savvy blend of French gastro-nomy and bistro culture.
All year round, Flybe operates outbound flights on Fri-day evening from London Southend, with the oppor-tunity to return on Sunday evening, making Rennes a perfect city destination to hop to for a weekend break! And there are even more options for taking a holi-day to Brittany with summer flights from London City, Manchester, Southampton and Exeter.
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Find out morewww.labelleiloise.fr
Find out morewww.flybe.com & www.tourisme-rennes.com
“For over three generations, our family offers the very best of gourmet canned fishWe use only the finest raw materials, prepared ac-cording to the most delicious recipes. Sardines, tuna, mackerel are worked by hand, while maintaining the utmost respect for tradition, not for the love of the past, but because it’s the best way to work the fish and preserve its flavour. Thanks to our expertise, we continue developing new recipes, so that tasting our products is always a great moment of pleasure!”Caroline Hilliet Le Branchu,Granddaughter of the founder
Shopping idea : Find the perfect Breton gift at La Belle-Iloise !
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“Les Frères Bouroullec”For the first time in Brittany, Ronan and Erwan Bou-roullec, two Breton designers and major figures of international design, showcase a substantial col-lection of their recent achievements, mostly unpu-blished, and developed in three distinct areas:· The design of objects at the FRAC Bretagne.· Micro-architecture projects at the Parliament of Brit-tany, where a versatile architectural platform will be hosted.· The first Bouroullec’s project for urban public space at the Champs Libres : an urban ‘reverie’ or wandering inspired from their reflexion on fictive development of the city.
Art treasures in the streets of RennesFollow Etienne on a walking tour to discover contemporary art works that are scattered all across the city of Rennes. Often highly original, some are discreetly displayed, whereas others are installed to astonish and turn up in some surpri-sing places…This unique art-themed tour in Rennes is open to eve-ryone, and includes a visit the Biennale of Contempo-rary Art and the Bourellec Brothers exhibition. “Trea-sures in the streets of Rennes” is one of the Brittany Experiences arranged by the Brittany Tourist Board. This hand-picked selection of unique activities offers visitors the opportunity to discover the real Brittany and all the hidden gems found off the beaten track.Brittany Experience from €12 per person.
Find out morewww.brittanytourism/ideas/brittany-experiences
Find out morewww.bouroullec.com
Off-beat weekend package
Find out morewww.aitre.eu
A 2-night package to discover remarkable contem-porary art and architecture sites in Brittany, pres-ented by AITRE Travel agency.Discover one of the biggest sculpture parks in Eu-rope, an estuary landscape dotted with works of art created by some of the greatest of international ar-tists and architects around, and Breton cities where art reveals itself at every street corner, with mu-seums housing some of the most beautiful contem-porary art collections in France.Small groups tours from €600 /pers., incl. flights, transfers, two B&B nights, tickets and tours.
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Balade en mer
From 13 to 19 July 2016, Brest’s harbour will be the setting of a display from another era. The Interna-tional Maritime Festival celebrated its 20th anni-versary in 2012, with 715,000 visitors and 1,500 traditional sailing boats from 25 nations. And with two new unique displays already scheduled for its 7th edition, it promises a magnificent spectacle on both land and water. Discover the Hermione frigate, the historical replica of the flagship La Fayette, which is very popular, and for the first time, the Monge, an impressive tracking ship that will be presented to the public by the French Navy. Over seven kilometres, the quayside rolls out the red carpet to hundred-year-old sailing boats and other remarkable vessels originating from all corners of the world. Watch the races and admire the boats in action, climb aboard and even set sail on the sea... and don’t miss the Grande Parade, an invincible arma-da, with around 20,000 sailors parading their uniforms to the tune of dozens of musical performances from Brest to Douarnenez. Savour a buzzing atmosphere with thousands of concerts, maritime scientist exhi-bitions, kids’ entertainment, magical fireworks, and a number of Breton food stands with cooking shows.There’s no better time to discover Brest city, the amazing Pont de l’Iroise bridge, the castle maritime museum, and of course Océanopolis, the only ocean discovery centre of its kind in Europe. Brest is a great base too to explore western Brittany gloriously rugged coastline, from the fjord-like abers to windswept is-lands and peaceful fishing villages. And it’s just a short flight away from London, Birmingham, Southampton, or a ferry crossing from southern England to St-Malo or Roscoff!
Prices from €15 /adult - €9 for young people under 18, and free for children under 10.
“Brest 2016” International
Maritime Festival
Make the most of your break in western Brittany with this truly amazing maritime world’s event.
The party goes on in Douarnenez!
Following Brest 2016’s Grande Parade, the im-pressive fleet of ships will drop anchor in the Port of Rosmeur in Douarnenez for another six days of festivities. From July 19th to 24th, the Temps Fêtes festival will host a vast range of events and performances. Douar-nenez waterfront will be a hive of activity with Bre-ton artists, musicians from all around the world, films projected onto sails, marine knots demonstrations, traditional Breton games and introduction to traditio-nal sailing being just a small selection of the activities on offer. The highlight of the festival is the hundreds of fishing boats and traditional sailing ships that form an impressive colourful flotilla. Come see the parade, regattas, and the manoeuvre challenges. And why not climb on board for a sailing trip?
Find out morewww.tempsfete.com
Find out morewww.brest2016.fr/en & www.brest-terres-oceanes.fr
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Find out morewww.tourismeleconquet.fr/en
Find out morewww.apjb.org
Fascinating themed routes to
(re)discover Brittany Drive, walk or cycle, the choice is yours to explore Brittany’s best kept secrets
The spectacular rugged coastline of western Brit-tany has an extraordinary collection of lighthouses, most dating from the 19th century.
Phare de l’Ile Vierge, phare des Pierres Noires, phare du Four... from Brest to Brigognan, or to Ushant Is-land, six days of hiking along the GR34 coastal path will lead you a number of legendary lighthouses. Unless you prefer a six-day loop in the Iroise country from Brélès to the Pointe Saint-Mathieu via Sainte-Anne du Portzic and Saint-Renan, a wonderful jour-ney across heritage sites! Cyclists can choose from three great signposted bike trails set-up by Le Conquet Tourist Board : “Le bout du monde” (64 km), “Les Vieilles Pierres” (93 km) and “Entre Manche et Océan” (33 km), combining on road routes following the coastline and off road countryside sections.
The Saint-Mathieu lighthouse is probably the hi-ghlight of any lighthouse themed tour in Brittany. This must-see site stands at the westernmost point of mainland France. Full of history and memories, the Pointe Saint-Mathieu, housing the lighthouse and a 16th century abbey, is a symbolic site for all the Breton sailors with the ‘National Memorial to sailors lost at sea’. Visitors can climb the 163 steps to enjoy spectacular panoramic views over the sea.
Gardens aren’t usually at the front of mind when thinking of Brittany… Yet remarkably, the perfect climate and rich soil have brought about a long tra-dition of acclimatisation of exotic plants, brought back by sailors from their expeditions.
The ‘Côte des Jardins’ new European garden route is an enchanting itinerary through the 11 most beauti-ful gardens in Brittany from English romanticism and formal French elegance, to mazes and unusual flower gardens. Along the way, you’ll discover unique set-tings, like Batz island where the Georges Delaselle’s garden holds more than 2,000 species of plant from all five continents, and boasts a superb collection of palm trees – all of which flourish thanks to the island’s position in the Gulf Stream. The 25 hectares of the Haute-Bretagne botanical park present a real change of scenery with 21 gardens including a prehistoric, a Persian and a setting-sun garden. This amazing bota-nical universe designed in 1847 is, according to the Michelin Guide, “one of the most beautiful landsca-ped gardens in France”.
Route des Phares - Let the lighthouses guide you
La Côte des Jardins - A new European garden route in Brittany
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Balade en mer
Imagine a rocky peninsula bathed in turquoise waters, bordered with charming colourful houses... welcome to the Presqu’Ile de Crozon! You’ll meet Erwan there for a gourmet catamaran ride into the sunset.As you set sail to the Cap de la Chèvre, at the southern tip of the Crozon peninsula, you’ll learn to recognise the texture of the water, detect wind acceleration, and you can even take the helm. Or alternatively just relax and enjoy the magnificent views over the sea. The rocky landscape of the Iroise Marine Park soon change to a beautiful golden brown colour. Arriving to the Ile Vierge from sea is a must! The beach there – hardly accessible from land – is one of the most beautiful in Europe, and under sunset it’s pure beauty! Clear water, steep cliff dotted with pine trees and carved with a discrete arc... It’s like being in one of southern France’s creeks , without the crowds.The gourmet break is a fabulous opportunity to sample the best of local produces: Pen Ar Bed Oys-ters, smoked trout sandwiches and fish rillettes of the Viviers Térenez, organic gingerbread from the Miellerie d’Armorique… All dashed with cider and apple juice from the Argol’s cider museum.Brittany Experience from €60 per adult, including:- A 2h30 “sunset” catamaran trip to discover the Crozon peninsula and the Ile Vierge- Tasting of local produce on board
Brittany Experiences Brittany’s hidden gems make unforgettable memories
Are you ready for an unforgettable trip to dis-cover the Molène archipelago and the Iroise marine park? Here nature remains untamed, battered by heavy swells and strong tidal cur-rents, with a landscape shaped by the wind. During an extraordinary journey with Christel and Lucky, both nature and sea lovers, discover the wild beauty of the island of Molène and the many trea-sures that surround it. On board their motorboat you’ll leave Le Conquet for a day of unforgettable encounters with bottlenose dolphins and grey seals. Breathtaking panoramas framed with impressive offshore lighthouses contrast with colourful flowered houses and the authentic streets of Molène’s village.Brittany Experience from €60 /adult including:- A day discovering the archipelago of Molène and the Iroise Marine Park with Christel and Lucky- A 3h stop on Molène Island
Find out morewww.brittanytourism.com/ideas/brittany-experiences
Go wild – explore the beautiesof Molène archipelago
Find out morewww.brittanytourism.com/ideas/brittany-experiences
Sail to one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe for a gourmet sunset
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Balade en mer
Gathering shellfish on the Crozon peninsula is a great activity, particularly for families. You’ll get to discover one of Brittany’s most amazing natu-ral sites - and you eat your spoils at the end! Hours are happily whiled away discovering all things weird and wonderful under the watchful expert gui-dance of Joël and Martine. Learn more about envi-ronmental preservation, the different species and the techniques of shellfish gathering. Clams, goose-neck barnacles, abalone, velvet crabs - Joël has a story to tell about every one of them. Under rocks, in the sand or under water, you will discover a whole new, edible world beside the seaside. After the wal-king and the fresh sea air whet the appetite, it’s time to savour the seafood platter that awaits you. Back to the house, Martine organises a little coo-kery workshop, and shows you how to cook clams and whelks, while the men get down to opening the oysters. Brittany Experience from €50 (from 2 to 6 people) including :- A day or a weekend gathering shellfish with Mar-tine and Joël Le Guirriec- Accommodation and full board for the day or the weekend at Martine and Joël’s gîte- Learning about the different species and the tech-niques of shellfish gathering- A cookery workshop at the gîte, featuring the catch of the day- Sampling of what you have caught
“Live like a local”Brittany’s hidden gems make unforgettable memories Offbeat experiences to discover real Brittany
Be a Breton fisherman for a day in the port of Le Guilvinec, that’s home of 1000 men and women sailing 253 boats. Every day, they fish langous-tines, monkfish, skate, cod, whiting and sar-dines.In the early morning, board the Kan Atao and go ins-hore fishing with Johan for a heartfelt and powerful experience. Through this unforgettable insight of the modern day fishermen’s life, you’ll meet ‘real’ Bretons, experience work on a langoustine trawler, learn about the fishing business and how/what/where to catch in Brittany’s waters, and enjoy a number of sailors’ jokes! When heading back to the harbour, it’s time for the fish auction where the old fishermen take the catch to market. By way of exchange, they get a share of the catch as payment. If you’d like to complete this journey in the world of fishing, visit Haliotika – la Cité de la Pêche, an interac-tive museum where you learn the journey of a fish, from its travels in the ocean to its arrival on your plate!
Brittany Experiences from €50 per person (maxi-mum 2), including :- A day at sea with a fisherman- On board, take part in collecting and sorting the catch
A day at sea with a fisherman from Le Guilvinec
Gathering shellfish with locals on the Crozon peninsula
Find out morewww.brittanytourism.com/ideas/brittany-experiences
Find out morewww.brittanytourism.com/ideas/brittany-experiences
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Getting to Brittany
Easy access by plane or ferry from the UK
Direct routes from the UK to Brittany
From To Ferry operator Find out morePlymouth Roscoff Brittany Ferries www.brittanyferries.comPoole St-Malo Condor Ferries www.condorferries.co.ukPortsmouth St-Malo Brittany Ferries www.brittanyferries.comPortsmouth St-Malo Condor Ferries www.condorferries.co.ukCork Roscoff Brittany Ferries www.brittanyferries.comRosslare Roscoff Condor Ferries www.condorferries.co.uk
By ferry
As soon as they arrive in the region, tourists have the benefit of Brittany’s entirely toll-free dual car-riage way network.
By car
From London, visitors from the UK can get to the Gare du Nord in Paris in 2 hours 20 minutes by Eu-rostar. Then, to continue their journey, Brittany has an excellent rail service from Paris aboard the TGV Atlantique high speed train. From the Gare Montpar-nasse in Paris, it takes two hours to get to Rennes and four hours to Brest or Quimper.
By train
Find out morewww.eurostar.com
Find out morewww.voyages-sncf.com
From To Airline Find out moreBirmingham Brest Flybe www.flybe.comBristol Nantes Easyjet www.easyjet.comEast Midlands Dinard Ryanair www.ryanair.comExeter Rennes Flybe www.flybe.comGuernsey Dinard Aurigny www.aurigny.comLeeds Bradford Dinard Ryanair www.ryanair.comLiverpool Nantes Easyjet www.easyjet.comLondon City Nantes Cityjet www.cityjet.comLondon City Quimper British Airways www.ba.com London City Rennes Flybe www.flybe.com London Gatwick Nantes Easyjet www.easyjet.comLondon Southend Rennes Flybe www.flybe.comLondon Stansted Dinard Ryanair www.ryanair.comManchester Nantes, Rennes Flybe www.flybe.comSouthampton Brest, Nantes, Rennes Flybe www.flybe.comCork Rennes Aer Lingus www.aerlingus.comDublin Nantes, Rennes Aerlingus www.aerlingus.comDublin Nantes, Rennes Ryanair www.ryanair.com
By plane
Brittany Tourism has been awarded the Green Globe Certificate for Sustainable Development.
Brittany tourismComité régional du tourisme de Bretagne1 rue Raoul Ponchon • CS 46938 35069 Rennes cedex, FranceTél. +33 (0)2 99 28 44 30 • [email protected]
Information
Document published by Brittany Tourism • 2016Cover and inside pages: designed by Charlotte Mével for Awen Studio • Photo credits: Front cover: Ronan Gladu - p2: Top Yannick Derennes; Bottom Emmanuel Berthier - p3: Top Emmanuel Berthier; Middle Miramar; Bottom Manoir de Kerlédan - p4: Middle Emmanuel Berthier; Bottom La Belle-Iloise; p5: Top Richard Dumas, Middle Yannick Derennes; Bottom Martin Argyroglo (Huang Yong Ping, Serpent d’océan, Saint-Brevin-les-Pins creation pérenne Estuaire 2012) - p6: Top Benoot Stiechelbaut – p7: Top Emmanuel Berthier; Bottom Parc Botanique de Haute-Bretagne – p8: Top Iconotec-Nicolas S; Bottom Emmanuel Berthier - p9: Top Pierre Torset; Bottom Simon Bourcier - p10: Diaphane-Ell-Prod - Back cover: Emmanuel Berthier.
