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: beautiful 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 only four places in the world where this rare natural stone is readily available. The influences of water and wind, for three hundred million years, created the special shapes. Another world wonder – but created by human hands – is located in Carnac: a collection of 2600 menhirs in long rows. The name literally means 'tall stone', some are 11 meters high and therefore weigh tons. Archaeologists are still scratching their heads about how they got there.

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

Walking to the end of the world

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

There are many more islands off the Breton coast, including the flower island Île de Bréhat and Île de Bratz with a tropical garden, thanks to the mild microclimate. In the south of Brittany lies Belle Île, with its white sandy beaches, dunes and cliffs. At the same latitude, there are many more islands in the Golfe du Morbihan: there must be hundreds, large islands that are sometimes even inhabited, and cute tiny ones – no one will miss one if you take it home with you... A beautiful area for a boat trip, or to rent a sailboat.

Tips in Brittany

Must do

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

With the kids

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

Must try

'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.