The celebrated letter-writer Madame de Sévigné stayed here between 1644 and 1690, during which time she wrote letters to her daughter (which are now well known in the French literary canon). In 1689, the son of Madame de Sévigné commissioned royal gardener André Le Nôtre to create the formal French gardens on the estate.

Steps away from the Plage de l'Ecluse, the artisanal ice-cream shop, Vent de Vanille (3 Bis Boulevard du Président Wilson), sells ice cream prepared from organic local milk and sorbet made with seasonal fresh fruit. Vent de Vanille also specializes in mille-feuilles, a crispy layered puff pastry dessert with creamy fillings. Two significant revolts occurred in the 17th and 18th centuries: the Revolt of the papier timbré (1675) and the Pontcallec conspiracy (1719). Both arose from attempts to resist centralisation and assert Breton constitutional exceptions to tax. [33] Breton exodus [ edit ] Gallo is also threatened by the Breton language revival, because Breton is gaining ground in territories that were not previously part of the main Breton-speaking area, and most of all because Breton appears as the national language of Brittany, thus leaving no place for Gallo. [73] The Gallo community is estimated at between 28,300 [74] and 200,000 [73] speakers. The language is taught on a non-compulsory basis in some schools, high-schools and universities, particularly in Ille-et-Vilaine. [73] Religion [ edit ] Sculpted " calvaries" can be found in many villages in Lower Brittany.In Roman times, Armorica included what is now Brittany. This was an indefinite region that extended along the English Channel coast from the Seine estuary, then along the Atlantic coast to the Loire estuary and, according to several sources, maybe to the Garonne estuary. This term probably comes from a Gallic word, aremorica, which means "close to the sea". [14] Another name, Letauia (in English " Litavis"), was used until the 12th century. It possibly means "wide and flat" or "to expand" and it gave the Welsh name for Brittany: Llydaw. [15] After touring the Château des Ducs de Bretagne, visitors should continue west of the castle to the historic quarter of Nantes known as the Bouffay district. In this medieval quarter of half-timbered houses, tourists may wander through the maze of winding streets and shop at the enticing boutiques. The château was built between the 12th and 15th centuries, representing a period of feudal life in France during the Middle Ages. To immerse visitors in the historical ambience, the Château de Fougères presents spectacles that bring the medieval era to life. On Thursday evenings during summertime, the château stays open late and is illuminated by torchlight, and special events such as medieval games and festivals are held at the château on occasion throughout the year.

Within this delightful historic town are many quaint narrow lanes and half-timbered houses. The prettiest street is Rue de la Baudrairie, once the quarter of the " baudroyeurs" (saddlers). The town's Gothic church, the Eglise Notre-Dame, was built in the 15th and 16th centuries. The interior features an intricate triptych consisting of 32 panels of Limoges enamel. Brittany's wildlife is typical of France with several distinctions. On one hand, the region, due to its long coastline, has a rich oceanic fauna, and some birds cannot be seen in other French regions. On the other hand, the species found in the inland are usually common for France, and because Brittany is a peninsula, the number of species is lower in its western extremity than in the eastern part.

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Having declined from more than one million speakers around 1950 to about 200,000 in the first decade of the 21st century, of whom 61% are more than 60 years old, Breton is classified as "severely endangered" by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger. However, the number of children attending bilingual classes has risen 33% between 2006 and 2012 to 14,709. [70] [71] Surrounded by a tree-shaded parkland, the Château de Rochefort-en-Terre has all the elements of a medieval castle. However, it's actually a 17th-century horse stables that was updated in the 20th century. (The ruins of the original château are found on the grounds.)

See also: Brittany (administrative region), Loire-Atlantique, and Administrative divisions of France The region Brittany comprises four historical Breton départements. Loire-Atlantique, in light blue, is part of the Pays de la Loire region.Brittany also has some film festivals like the Three Continents Festival in Nantes. The Utopiales international science fiction festival is held in the same city. Brest and Douarnenez both organise large tall ship meetings (See Brest Maritime Festival).

What amazed us most on our Brittany road trip, a region in the northwest of France were the absolute jaw-dropping panoramas that we came across. From the raw coastal stretches to the medieval towns, there was such amazing diversity on display. Anyone with a sweet tooth will want to try the pâtisserie boutique and tea salon, Grain de Vanille (12 Place de la Victoire), which serves artisanal pastries, ice cream, tea, coffee, and hot chocolate. One of the highlights of this coastal area is Perros-Guirec, a popular seaside resort in Brittany and favorite destination among Breton families. Perros-Guirec has three sandy beaches with kids' clubs, as well as opportunities for water sports during summer. View over Trébeurden

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At the same time, the Celtic Revival led to the foundation of the Breton Regionalist Union (URB) and later to independence movements linked to Irish, Welsh, and Scottish and Cornish independence parties in the UK, and to pan-Celticism. However, the audience of these movements remained very low and their ideas did not reach a large public until the 20th century. The Seiz Breur movement, created in 1923, permitted a Breton artistic revival [37] but its ties with Nazism and the collaborationism of the Breton National Party during World War II weakened Breton nationalism in the post-war period. Tourists should take time to wander around the village through the atmospheric, narrow streets. There are many artists' ateliers, as well as attractive half-timbered and old stone houses featuring window sills bursting with bright geraniums. Potted flowers also adorn the squares and hidden corners of the town. Until the end of the 20th century, Brittany had been characterised by a strong Catholic and conservative influence. However, some areas such as the industrial region around Saint-Nazaire and Lorient and the surroundings of Tréguier are traditional Socialist and Communist strongholds. Left-wing parties, mainly the Socialist party and the Greens, have become more powerful after the 1970s and they have formed a majority in the Regional Council of Brittany since 2004. The Loire-Atlantique and Ille-et-Vilaine councils have also been held by the left since 2004.