Our Top 5 Places to Visit in Brittany
Should we say “Bretagne”, “Brittany” or “Breizh”?
In Roman times, it was the name of a Celtic tribe settled in the London region, the Brittones, which was used to designate the island of Britain. Brito (in Latin) therefore designates the inhabitants of the British Isles and when they migrated to Armorica in the 5th century, our ancestors were called Bretun, Bretton then Breton, and their country Brittany or Bertaegne in Gallo; hence Little Britain with Bretons and Great Britain with British.
Breizh, on the other hand, means Brittany in the Breton language! A language quite closer to Gallo than it is to French…
Our Top 5 Brittany Destinations
1) Les Mégalithes de Carnac (the French Stonehenge)
The alignments of Carnac stand out as the highest concentration of megaliths in the world. Menhirs and dolmens that run for more than four kilometers, dating back to 4500 years before our era. There are nearly 4000 coins raised. Of course, all this is absolutely unique and justifies the trip to the region.
MENHIRS, (from the Breton men hir: long stone), also called “standing stone”, are always placed on a crossing of networks and faults or water currents and are used to capture telluric energy to redistribute it. Thus, during alignments, the energy is transmitted from raised stone to raised stone but can also be transmitted over greater distances and form like energy zones, compensating for an initially low rate.
To charge yourself with energy, position yourself a few meters from the menhir after having detected the point where it releases its positive energy, most often to the south. Close your eyes, spread your arms if you wish and try to empty yourself, to be in communion, in full awareness with the menhir and your feelings.
DOLMENS (from the Breton dol men: stone table) are a megalithic construction. They consist of standing stones surmounted by a slab and can have various shapes. Considered as a sepulchral chamber, preceded by an antechamber, very few bones have been found underneath, which suggests that these funerary chambers were reserved for illustrious people.
There are 2 kinds of dolmens, positive and negative dolmens. It is therefore important to listen to your feelings and, why not, to ask instead for permission to enter.
Positive dolmens emit cosmotelluric energies. They are a symbol of Mother Earth. Negatives are capable of draining you of your energy. Be careful before entering a dolmen!
2) The ramparts of Vannes
Go to Vannes, completely in the south of Brittany, for a historic walk on the ramparts built between the 3rd and 17th centuries. Vannes was founded by the Romans at the end of the 1st century (on an existing city), and today is revealed to tourists in all its grandeur, between modernity and tradition. And above all, do not forget to go through the gardens which are also superb.
3) La pointe de la Torche: the mysterious bay of Finistère
In Finistère, La Pointe de la Torche attracts many surfers. Less known than other key destinations in Brittany, this peninsula is nevertheless a haven for nature lovers and thrill seekers. Beaten by the winds, this bay of the Pays Bigouden is the favorite place of migratory birds. To stay in the surrounding area, book a hotel in Concarneau or try camping in Penmarc’h. Take advantage of a Spring day to discover la Pointe de la Torche when poppies grow around the megalithic sites.
4) Nantes, the city of the Dukes
Nantes is like the second heart of Brittany. To restore its image as a port center and industrial city, the municipality has invested in many urban works of art. Discover these surprising corners thanks to tourist routes by boat on the Loire, on foot or even by bike. Essential points of Nantes: the Machines de l’Ile, the castle of the Dukes of Brittany, the passage Pommeraye, the Lieu Unique or the Jardin des Plantes.
5) Inspiring Pont-Aven
This small town, nestled in the verdant estuary of the Aven, owes its notoriety to the school of painters who had Gauguin as their master. Strolling along the ria, crossing the footbridges, it is easy to imagine the artists fascinated by the poetry of the landscapes and the luminosity of the small port.
Today, art galleries abound, perpetuating the “bohemian” spirit of the past.
