Roscoff attracts millions of sightseers who go to marvel at its breathtaking wonders. The Roscoff parish church called “Our Lady Croaz of Bats”,is a stunningly stupendous structure that has attracted tourists from all over the world.The gigantic sacred building of Gothic style was constructed in the sixteenth century. Another tourist attraction structure located in Roscoff is the awesome house called “Mary, Mother of Scots”, named after Mary I of Scotland who was the queen regnant of Scotland and the queen consort of France in mid 16th century. Roscoff also has a globally acclaimed first-class laboratory that deals in oceanography and aquatic biology, is another attraction that has drawn visitors from every corner of the planet. It also has a botanical garden with various plants from the Southern Hemisphere which is open daily to tourists at a fee and which is another source of it’s magic.

In addition, Roscoff has world class hotels that offer tourists tasty cuisines that make them feel at home while away from home.These hotels include Hotel aux Tamaris, Hotel Le Brittany ,Le Temps de Vivre,La Residence,Hotel du Centre, among many classic others.

For those sightseers who need vacation rentals, Roscoff has many self-contained vacation rentals that will make you suppress any pangs of nostalgia. Listed among Roscoff’s top 5 rentals include: Plouescat Vacation Rentals, Brignogan-Plage Vacation Rentals, Plougasnou Vacation Rentals,Morlaix Vacation Rentals,and Commana Vacation Rentals. The special features of these houses are available on the internet. ]]> http://www.1stforbrittanyproperty.com/magical-beauty-roscoff/feed 0 http://www.1stforbrittanyproperty.com/beauty-brittany-christmas http://www.1stforbrittanyproperty.com/beauty-brittany-christmas#comments Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:46:50 +0000 Howard http://www.1stforbrittanyproperty.com/?p=325 Brittany Over Christmas

Get away from it all by booking a break in beautiful Brittany over Christmas. This rugged French region is ideal for anyone hoping to add a little rustic fun to their celebrations, and there’s nothing like looking out at it’s wind-swept coastline and gorgeous inner-woods for giving you a winter glow – especially as winters in Brittany are typically remarkably mild.

Explore the magical Carnac

Wrap up warmly and set out to explore the seaside resort of Carnac, where you’ll find yourself in the company of some amazing megalithic remains from the Neolithic period. An area home to many ancient burial places and tumuli, as well as the massive menhir stone erected by tribes in prehistoric times, this is an enthralling place to spend some time looking at relics from times past over the Christmas season.

Celebrate at the Christmas Markets

On the other hand, you can find yourself firmly in the present by whiling the hours away at Brittany’s popular Christmas markets. France is renowned for its excellent markets all year round, but they really come into their own over the Christmas season. Be sure to pay a visit to the Brest Christmas Market in Brittany’s harbour area, where you’ll find delicious delicacies and traditional gifts being sold in a series of festive wooden chalets.

Enjoy a festive wonderland

Stay in a gite or cute country cottage and you’ll love being able to celebrate Christmas in an authentic, old-fashioned setting. France is well known for its fine dining and Brittany is no exception, so you’ll be sure to eat well over your festive break. And seeing as Brittany is particularly famed for its fish dishes, why not try a Christmas dinner with a difference?

Thrill the children

Christmas in Brittany isn’t only an excellent ways for adults to escape from it all, but can also be a magical experience for children. La Pomme d’Orange is a delightful festival in Peillac that is devoted entirely to thrilling children. Actors and musicians in traditional costumes tell fairy stories and Christmas tales, much to the excitement of little ones – although some understanding of French is useful! Starting at the beginning of December, the festival closes at the Epiphany celebrations – normally around Jan 6 – with a giant almond tart made by local bakers.

There’s plenty to see and do in beautiful Brittany during the festive season, no matter what age you are.

James writes for Skyscanner.net. Skyscanner compare cheap flights to hundreds of destinations worldwide.

If you want to view a property in Brittany in December, please contact us. See Contact details in the right menu area. Hope to see you in Brittany over Christmas.

Photo by law_keven

Ille-et Vilaine makes up one of the four departments of Brittany – also known as Department 35.  To the north of this department is its coastline bordering the English Channel.

Introduction to major towns in Ille-et-Vilaine

The town of St Malo and in particular the”Intra Muros”  meaning “walled city” can be found in this department.  There are many hotels, cafe, bars and restaurants that can be found within the walls and is popular with tourists.   Street painters can be seen during the summer months in its streets along with musicians.

If your arrival to France is into the port of St Malo you have a panoramic view of the city with the sun rising over buildings.  Brittany Ferries operates it overnight sailing from Portsmouth in to St Malo.

Further along the coastline is the town of Cancale.  The town is famed for its Oysters and there are a wealth of restaurant with all types of seafood on offer in this town.

Rennes can be found within the department of Ille-et-Vilaine and is also the capital of Brittany.  There are two universities within Rennes.  There is also an underground Metro system covering nearly 10km.  Rennes is classed as a city of art and history.

Medieval Dinan in Ille-et-Vilaine

One of the most spectacular cities within this department is the medieval town of Dinan.  This walled city plays host to a medieval festival every other year where the town is completely transformed with parades and exhibitions. Another popular tourist destination with restaurants and creperies.  Much of the old ramparts remain and its possible to walk round these enjoying spectacular views over the port of Dinan and the river Rance.

Please click here for our Brittany properties located within the Ille-et-Vilaine Department >> Ille-et-Vilaine Property

Photo by alainlm

Finistere is one of the 4 departments that forms Brittany.  Not only is it the most westerly department of Brittany, but also of all the French departments (excluding overseas territories).

Finistere Coastline

The coastline around Finistere accounts for nearly a quarter of all the French coastline with around 1250km of coast. Brittany property on the coast is more expensive but prices drop as you move inland.

Several large towns are located within Finistere including Brest, Morlaix, Carhaix and Douarnenez.

Brest has a miliatry port and was used extensively by the Germans in the Second World War as a base for their U Boats

Much of the city had to be rebuilt after the Second World War.  Brest is now a popular university city and is home to the French Naval Accademy.

For travellers there is an airport located at Brest and a ferry port at Roscoff served by Brittany Ferries and Irish Ferries.

The capital of this department is Quimper. Quimper has a Winter Festival, ‘Les Hivernautes’

Morlaix has one of the tallest lighthouses in France,  the Phare de L’ile Vierge, and in the old part of town you will find cobbled streets and stone and timber houses.

The Regional Parc d’Armorique is situated within Finistere

The landscape in this area is diverse with the Mounts d’Arrée, sandy beaches and rivers.  The Monts D ’Arrée hills are infact one of the oldest geological formations, older than the Alps.

Finistere – the end of the earth.  This is quite literally the Latin meaning of Finistere

The most westerly tip of Finistere is known as the Point de Corsen

The main industries within this area are Agriculture and Food Processing

Click here for our selection of Finistere Property

Josselin Chateau

Josselin

The medieval “petite citie de caracture” of Josselin sits in the North of the department of Morbihan with the Nantes Brest canal running through the heart of this town.

One of the most spectacular sites is the Chateau de Josselin on the banks of the Canal.

Part of the chateau and its grounds are open to visitors, with tours in French and English.

The chateau is now classed as a monument historique.  Being first built in the 11th century and has been rebuilt several times. During the French Revolution, part of it became a prison. The chateau is still used as a residence today.

Every other year the town holds it Festival Medieval where visitors are encouraged to dress in costume and enjoy the ambiance.

Market day in Josselin

Saturday is market day in Josselin with the stalls lining the streets with half timbered buildings and in the summer months becomes very popular with tourists.  Many enjoy a leasurley stroll around the stalls and then a stop off  in one of the many bars and restaurants.

Those living in Josselin are known as Josselinais.. Josselin was founded in the 11th century by the Viscount of Porhoet.

The town is  twinned with Alzey in Germany and also TARD in Hungary.  The town is currently a ville fleurie ***

In the centre of the village is the Basilica and cloaked around the square are an assortment of bars and restaurants making Josselin a real tourist magnet.

Josselin has an assortment of shops, and two supermarkets on the edge of town.  A cinema can be found in centre of town, which shows a selection of “version original” films.  A modern “cultural centre” is houses on the edge of the town and plays host to various exhibitions, dance, theatre and music

If you are interested in a property in Josselin or the surrounding area – please click the link

Morbihan coastline

Morbihan Department

Morbihan , also known as Department 56 is one of the four departments that makes up Brittany. Morbihan is in Southern Brittany and has some spectacular coastlines. The climate and landscapes make Morbihan property very attractive!

Carnac, in the Gulf of Morbihan has one of the world’s greatest concentration of neolithic standing stones, boasting over 3000 and drawing visitors from all around the world.

Step inland and Morbihan plays host to the Celtic legend of King Arthur, with the Brocéliande Forest and area around Paimpont.   Today somewhat of a tourist attraction with Merlins Tomb and  the Val sans Retour (Vale or Valley of No Return).

You can pick from a host of picturesque villages and ramble around medieval castles of Josselin and Pontivy.

Morbihan Beauty

is the one Breton départment whose interior charms can rival its coastal beauty. Take a short retreat from the seaside crowds to enjoy delightful walking along the rural waterways of the canal of Nantes-Brest which dates back to Napoleonic times.

Not that the coast lacks charm, the Golfe du Morbihan with the capital being Vannes nestling at its heart , is a shallow gulf, meaning little sea in Breton, dotted with over 40 islands. The wild western coast of the slender Quiberon Penninsula, in places no more than 100m wide, contrasts with the sandy beaches on its eastern side , while the town at the tip is the jumping off point for day visits to the Island of Belle-Ile-en-mer.

Morbihan has also got a micro-climate which benefits in more sunshine hours than anywhere else in Brittany.<

There are many markets each day throughout Morbihan and the specialty foods such as galettes, crepes and cider and not forgetting the array of shellfish that is available, makes Morbihan a place that you would like to come back to time and time again.

Additional references:
Morbihan Tourist Office

For the full story click here

Photo by loranger

For your Brittany Holidays, you can escape to the islands and discover the beauty of a wild countryside. These vacation havens are available in all seasons and easily accessible from many ports in Britain.

Brittany has a natural heritage that is rich and diverse. On the seaward side, is the kingdom of cliffs, dunes, shingle beaches, mudflats and coastal marshes. Inland, find freshwater ponds, and bogs that are very rich but remain fragile environments. Unlike other regions, Brittany has few species of its own but its fauna is not commonplace either: otters, Quimper snails, eels, shrews, seals, tritons, dolphins …

Brittany Holidays: Legends

The interior also boasts enchanting corners with connections to Britain. Some sites are even bathed in an aura of fantastic legends and stories (Brocliande with the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, the Monts d’Arre people of goblins and other malicious elves …). These legends typically Breton will accompany you, throughout your Brittany Holidays, as you cannot escape them!

Find sunken paths, explore megaliths and menhirs, Bretagne provides high quality tourist destinations: between “Green Ways” which are easy accessible to the greatest number of visitors, and to the more sunken roads nestled in forests and groves. The Green Ways project, aims to cover Brittany with easy-going long-distance paths, also including canal towpaths

Enjoy the Lighthouses on your Brittany Holidays

Brittany has more than a third of the 148 French lighthouses (including 23 in Finistère). The discovery of these impressive buildings is a must if you are interested in Breton maritime heritage.

Of these, 7 are classified historic monument (MH), and 5 are among the few remaining lighthouse still guarded by towers (Sein Crac’h, Belle Ile en Mer et Frehel). These lighthouses, just as the Breton legends follow you, accompany you around the coast during your Brittany Holidays stay.

The weather in St Malo has a climate moderated by the ocean.

Photo by Dewfs™

The temperatures are warmed by the Gulf Stream and the variation of the temperatures between winters and summer is very low (of 5,4 °C in February in 17,3 °C in July) with an average in 11,3 °C.

The weather in St Malo is heavily influenced by the microclimate induced by the bay.  This microclimate is responsible for really very mild temperatures. The weather in St Malo is practically limited to the bay. The more you go westward or northward, the more the climate becomes cooler.

The tides of the bay of Saint-Malo are among the most important in Europe. They are enhanced by the concentration of waters in the heart of a triangular bay between Brittany and Cotentin on the Normandy Manche peninsula.

At most, the tidal range (amplitude between low tide and high tide) can reach it 14 meters, it is more than double the common tidal range in the Atlantic Ocean.

So caution is advisable when venturing into the sea. Before climbing on sandbanks or on rocks in low tide, it is advisable to inquire about the schedules of tides, to avoid the risk of being trapped by the sea (NB: schedules of the tides are available in tourist offices). It is not recommended to walk by the sea in daytime when spring tides and big winds converge. There is a risk of  being swept out to sea and drowning so exercise care.

Winters: the Weather in St Malo

The climate is very clement. The temperatures are considerably more mild than in the North Sea or the Baltic Sea. Thanks to this climate there is no fixed season and you can enjoy the off – peak seasons.  With fewer tourists you can still enjoy good seafoods and fishes, with practically all the restaurants open. So even during November, December, January, February, March the weather in St Malo is very pleasant.

Ferry

St Malo Ferry

One of the most relaxing and convenient routes direct to Brittany is the Portsmouth to St Malo Ferry. This service is operated by Brittany Ferries.

www.brittany-ferries.co.uk

The service is an overnight crossing from Portsmouth leaving around 20h30* and arrives around 08h30* the following morning.

The usual ferry to operate this route is the mv Bretagne (pictured at the St Malo Ferry port) and has an excellent choice of restaurants and cabins or reclining seats. The name of this ferry, “Bretagne” is French for Brittany.

The mvBretagne was launched in February 1989 and has a gross tonnage of 24,534 tons.  It has a capacity of 580 cars, 39 freight vehicles and has 376 cabins.  During 2009 the Bretagne underwent a 6 million euro refit in Gdansk, Poland.

There is an independent website run by enthusiasts which can be found at www.bfenthusiasts.com, which offers information, chat and forums on Brittany Ferries fleet of ferries to France.

St Malo Ferry Port

With excellent onboard facilities the crossing to St Malo takes you direct to the gateway  into Brittany.  On the approach to the ferry port of St Malo enjoy the panoramic view of the walled city of St Malo – the intra muros as the sun makes it was over the tops of the buildings of this historic city.

The intra muros is well worth a visit.  Within the walls of this city you will find many excellent  restaurants most offering a selection of seafoods.  Enjoy a walk around the ramparts with spectacular views of the islands and nearby Dinard.  During the summer months the Place Chateaubriand comes alive with street artists and painters and music.

With an excellent road network , arriving at St Malo Ferry port is ideal to start exploring Brittany.

Travel times from the St Malo port

Loudeac – 1 hour

Lorient – 3 hours

Josselin – 2 hours

Morlaix – 2hour 30 mins

Vannes –  2hour 30 mins

St Breiuc – 1hour 30 mins

Returning back to the UK, the ferry leaves around 10h30* in the morning arriving back in Portsmouth early evening around 18h30.

Condor Ferries also operate a service from the UK to France and details of their service can be found at www.condorferries.com.

* subject to timetables and tide times

St Malo is a great starting point for vacations in Brittany or as a base to search for a Brittany property.

Bon Voyage on the Portsmouth to St Malo ferry!