The secrets of Brittany

Rugged rocks, steep cliffs, menhirs and lighthouses. That is Brittany, the wild peninsula of La Douce France. With a sweet edge: wonderful beaches in the south and forests, meadows and grassy hills inland.

Thirty kilometers of pink granite. The Côte de Granit Rose – near Ploumanac'h – is one of four places in the world where this rare natural stone is available for the taking. The influences of water and wind, lasting three hundred million years, created the special shapes. Another wonder of the world – but created by human hands – is located in Carnac: a collection of 2600 menhirs in long rows. The name literally means 'high stone', some are 11 meters high and therefore weigh tons. Archaeologists are still scratching their heads about how to get there.

Also not to be missed: Mont Saint Michel, almost on the border of Normandy and Brittany: a peninsula built down to the last square centimeter, one kilometer off the coast. It is one of the most visited attractions in France and during extreme high tides the only access road is still under water.

Walking to the end of the world

Finistère: its literal translation is 'the end of the world', in Breton. Rough, fierce and wild. Even more 'end of the world' is the Pointe du Raz, at the westernmost tip of France. Here you can look seventy meters down and see how the wild waves crash on the rocks. In the far distance you can see one of France's most famous lighthouses, the Phare Ar Men, on the islet Île de Sein. The few houses on this island are close together, like cows in a storm. Because if it's haunted, then it's really haunted here...

There are many more islands off the Brittany coast, including the flower island Île de Bréhat and Île de Bratz with a tropical garden, thanks to the mild microclimate. Belle Île is located in the south of Brittany, with its white sandy beaches, dunes and cliffs. There are many more islands at the same height in the Gulf of Morbihan: there must be hundreds of them, large islands that are sometimes even inhabited, and cute tiny ones - no one will miss one of those when you take it home... A beautiful area to take a boat trip or rent a sailing boat.

Tips in Brittany

You must do it

Nice city trips: Saint-Malo (beautiful center!), Brest (naval city), Douarnenez, with the only floating ship museum in France: le Port-Musée.

With the children

In Brest you can visit the Océanopolis aquarium and theme park, www.oceanopolis.com. Another highlight: the Grand Aquarium in Saint Malo, www.aquarium-st-malo.com.

You have to taste it

'Kig ha farz' is a traditional Breton stew from Finistère. With pork, vegetables and 'far': pasta made from buckwheat that is cooked in a linen bag with the rest.