Ten reason to visit Brittany in 2009
From credit crunch camping to affordable golfing, here are our top ten reasons for putting Brittany at the top of your travel list for 2009.1. CREDIT CRUNCH CAMPING AND CARAVANNING
The region has hundreds of affordable campsites for caravans, motor homes and tents with excellent services and facilities including sports and activities. Many family orientated sites have water parks, golf courses and adventure playgrounds. There are quieter sites for the more discerning visitors who just want to relax and enjoy the countryside. Whether on a traditional family break on one of Brittany’s golden beaches, or at a secluded forest hideaway location, the average price for the site and car park space is around €17 per night at a 3-star site and €12 per night at a 2-star site.
2. TAKE TO THE WATERWAYS
Brittany has around 600 kilometres of navigable waterways ranging from the historic Nantes-à-Brest canal, the rugged wild estuaries of the Rivers Rance and Vilaine to the ambling “Ille et Rance” canal from St. Malo to the Breton capital of Rennes. The waterway routes provide access to some of the most beautiful countryside and architecture in the region including the medieval towns of Dinan and Malestroit, the waterside chateau at Josselin and the pretty port of La Roche Bernard. For the more adventurous, there is white water rafting in the black mountains of Morbihan.
3. SUPERB AND AFFORDABLE GOLF COURSES
Golf has never been so affordable, fees start from €33 at a 9-hole course and the region has 34 golf courses who welcome British golfers. Be it a friendly 9-hole course on the coast or one of the lush fairways at a private manor, the breathtaking scenery combined with the choice of courses for experienced professionals and keen amateurs has ensured Brittany’s place as an emerging European golf destination. There’s even a special area to encourage young players to improve their game at the Golf de Freslonniere Club just outside Rennes. For keen golfers, the 2009 Brittany Pro-Am will be held in May at the Pleneuf Val Andre Golf Club.
4. HOME TO THALASSOTHERAPY & NEW ECO SPA
Renowned as the birthplace of thalassotherapy, Brittany is an ideal destination for a wellbeing break and for those wanting to shed those extra kilos. There’s a choice of 13 thalassotherapy centres including the first thalassotherapy centre in France, the Institut Rockroum in Roscoff founded in 1899. Day packages or longer stays offer a range of world class treatments to restore energy and provide total relaxation. Expert advice on health and wellbeing compliment the seawater therapy and are accompanied by close medical supervision.
A major new development due to open in April this year is Yves Rocher’s first Eco-Hotel and Spa on the hills surrounding the small town of La Gacilly. The Spa only uses vegetable based treatments researched and developed in the “Vegeterium” and the Yves Rocher Botanical Garden in the town. The eco-concept hotel has been designed to blend in with the surrounding countryside by using natural materials and is already a designated birdlife reserve. The many eco-friendly features include vegetated parking lots established in the middle of fruit trees and flowers; a rainwater recuperation system installed on the hotel’s roof and a self-sufficient cleaning basin to filter and treat the sewage from the hotel. The Eco-Hotel & Spa has 29 rooms, one suite, restaurant and conference centre.
5. BRITTANY’S “CITIES OF HERITAGE AND CULTURE”
Throughout the centuries the individual cities and towns throughout the region have retained their individual character. Some towns such as Quimper and Vannes date back as far as 2000-years from the Gallo Roman period. Many of the coastal locations including Mailestroit and Auray still have fortified sites and St. Malo retains its walled defences. The region has an abundance of medieval castles and chateaux’s. Many areas are dominated by their religious beginnings, an example the remains of the Abbey du Bon Repos at Lake Guerledan in Côtes d’Armor.
To preserve the rich history and religious heritage of the region many towns and cities organise annual festivals, educational workshops, discovery tours and religious trails which are ideal for short breaks. Low cost airlines fly to a choice of airports and accommodation throughout the region costs on average from just €30 per person per night in quality 2-star hotels with individual style and character.
6. ECO-ACCOMMODATION IN BRITTANY
Brittany is becoming a green region as it develops its eco-tourism products, examples include tree house accommodation at the Domaine des Ormes; the eco-holiday village of “Domaine de Crenihuel” in the town on Silfiac built using environmentally friendly materials and where even the swimming pool is filtered by natural plants and in the south visitors can stay in one of Brittany’s lighthouses, the “Phare du Kerbel” offering panoramic views of the surrounding coastline.
7. THREE HUNDRED FESTIVALS AND EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
Brittany hosts more than 300 festivals and events throughout the year ranging from local theatrical productions to major international events such as the annual Art Rock Festial, which offers a varied programme of contemporary music with performance arts and France’s largest Greenfield music festival, the Vieilles Charrues which takes place in Carhaix in July and attracts around 180,000 visitors. (Last year the line-up included Babyshambles, Motorhead, the Kooks and Calvin Harris.)
8. FREE-WHEELING - “VÉLOROUTES ET VOIES VERTES”
Brittany is popular with cyclists and has 2000kms of cycle paths and a choice of nine itineraries crossing forests, woods, along lakesides, disused rail tracks and canals. Bike hire costs visitors from €7 for half a day. The French Cycle Touring Federation provides a great range of services throughout the region offering top guides and bike hire points. Many of the Breton islands where cars are banned are a haven for cyclists. In towns, cycle tracks provide stress-free cycling along the streets and alleyways.
9. CELTIC CULTURE IN BREIZH
Brittany was a separate country from France until 1532 and the people celebrate their Celtic culture through food, drink, architecture and music. Brittany produces local ciders, beers and Scottish-style shortbread or ‘galettes’. Like its Celtic counterparts in Scotland and Ireland, it also produces whisky - both blended and single malt at the Warenghem Distillery. Celebrating their heritage with Celtic music and dance, “Fest-Noz” are common in the regional towns throughout the summer and on a larger scale there’s the annual summer Interceltiques Festival in Lorient and the Cornouaille Festival in Quimper.
10. NEW REGIONAL TOURISM DIRECTOR
After many years living and working in France as a consultant, British/Irish, Michael Dodds has been appointed as the first non-French director of a Regional Tourism Committee in France. He is the first foreign appointment to such a senior position in French Tourism. He aims to strengthen Brittany’s image and brand values within the UK market and for Brittany to be seen as the most welcoming region in France.
For more information about Brittany, log on to Brittanytourism.com.