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Brittany The savory scent of sea air and delectable French cuisine characterize the refined, yet rustic charm of France’s Brittany peninsula. A widely popular destination, Brittany has the unique advantage of a temperate climate, as it is surrounded on three sides by the Atlantic Ocean and receives the warm, wafting winds of the Gulf Stream.
Brittany, much like Ireland to the north, has a local, native dialect that is spoken in addition to the national French tongue. This Celtic Breton can even be found on bilingual street signs in certain parts of the peninsula. Indeed, remnants of the Celtic past – be it the folklore or the huge stonework structures and monoliths that spot the province – are beloved among the locals, and prized by the vacationers and tourists who come to experience the magic of Brittany.
One of the focal points for that magic can be found in the enchanted forest of Huelgoat, whose mysterious creeks and babbling brooks with smooth, moss covered stones seem to come straight from a fairy tale, and at any moment one might expect a small Troll to jump out and bid you “Bonjour!”
Cuisine in Brittany is lauded for its uniqueness, as it doesn’t fall into the simple “French cuisine” pigeonhole that foreigners might expect. Heavily influenced by seafood and the fishing communities on Brittany, it’s what people wash down the local flavor with that raises most eyebrows among those new here. Indeed, beverages in Brittany are a welcome relief to anyone less than enthusiastic about wine. Indeed, while Bordeaux is all about the Merlot, it’s Brittany that will serve you a tall, frothy glass of France’s grossly unadvertised native beers. Although for a period of time wines won out, over the past few decades Brittany has re-emerged into its own and there are several microbreweries where good French beer can be found. Brittany is also known for its hardy cider – it’s the second biggest cider producer in all of France, and even has a small white wine region.
Locals are well accustomed to putting up travelers through the night, and lodging options are numerous, ranging from summertime camping (warm weather makes this extremely pleasant) to luxurious cottage style apartment rentals. |
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