Thinking about buying or selling property in Brittany France? Typical homebuyers are drawn to Brittany by the region’s beautiful Atlantic shores, medieval villages, and laid-back way of life. Temperate weather used to be a turnoff for die-hard beach bums, but even that is beginning to change.
France’s fourth most popular tourist destination may be your key to the good life for these six reasons.
We’ve got the beach, the country, and the arts covered!
In addition to its breathtaking coastline and typical modest resorts, Brittany is also home to old cities and a beautiful forested hinterland. Finistère, the region’s most westerly department, is home to the significant marine city of Brest, the cultural treasure Quimper, and the popular Bay of Morlaix, as well as some of the region’s wildest and most captivating beaches, especially around the Crozon peninsula. Most of the northern coast of Brittany is included in the Côtes d’Armor department; this is where visitors flock to enjoy the beaches and the quaint villages of Lannion, St. Brieuc, and Dinan.
Morbihan is a department in the center of the southern coast, and it is home to popular tourist destinations including the coastal cities of Vannes, Carnac, and Quiberon, as well as the interior region surrounding Josselin. The area of Ille-et-Vilaine, with its ancient port city of Saint-Malo, its interior riverside town of Redon, and its capital city of Rennes, known for its half-timbered homes, should not be forgotten.
What’s faster, a train, or a car?
When it comes to vacation spots in Brittany, Britons are spoiled for choice. With the convenience of the Eurotunnel and several ferry connections along the northwestern coast of France, road travel is a popular alternative. An estimated 7-8 hours are needed to drive from Calais to Finistère, with a little less time needed for more eastern locations. Options for flights to Brest, Rennes, Nantes, and Dinard are available from several UK airports. And from London, you may take the Eurostar to Paris and then take the TGV to Rennes, Brest, or Quimper.
Climate change’s silver lining
Historically, homebuyers who prize perpetual summer weather have been more drawn to the more southern parts of France, notably those near the Mediterranean. Brittany’s inability to compete for stems from its winters being significantly colder, wetter, and windier than the rest of Europe. Due to Europe’s shifting weather patterns and the rising frequency of catastrophic situations like droughts and forest fires, the region’s stable temperature environment is becoming more and more appealing. The French have even invented a term, “migrants climatiques,” to describe those who leave more reliably hot places in favor of Brittany.
This stunning Brittany village cottage has three bedrooms and is listed at €220,500.
Elevation after the Pandemic
In the wake of the epidemic, French purchasers have shown a renewed interest in previously underappreciated portions of Brittany, just like they did in less populated areas of the United Kingdom. Buyers seeking to escape the congestion of major cities are increasingly drawn to the tranquilly and bigger homes available in rural locations. The demand for beachfront apartments in Brittany has been bolstered by both seasonal visitors and those who work from home (télétravail). As a result, prices are rising, but life is returning to once-desolate areas.
Cornish and Celtic ties
The Bretons, the natives of Brittany, share a Celtic ancestry with their British counterparts. Bretons have their own unique identity thanks to their own language, festivals, and customs (and even cola!). Because of their shared Celtic heritage and strikingly similar coastal environments, Cornwall and Brittany continue to have a close cultural bond in the United Kingdom.
As a result of its close ties to Cornwall, it is not surprising that the southwest corner of Finistère is still called La Côte de Cornouaille’. The modest mediaeval city of Quimper, located on the Odet River and known for its pottery, adds to the beauty of this region.
A family resort, Bénodet, may be found a short distance down, across the estuary from the quaint riverside town of Sainte-Marine, which can be reached by means of a ferry and a bridge. Bénodet is known for its lagoon, beaches, and marina. From the quay, you may catch a ferry to nearby Quimper or the Glénan Islands. Beautiful Fousnant and La Forêt-Fousnant may be found to the east, both situated on a bay and boasting one of Brittany’s largest recreational marinas. The quaint coastal village of Concarneau, France, is home to a picturesque fishing harbor and a medieval-fortified island.
Brittany’s Dish: Delicious Cuisine
In all of France, crêpes are most popular in Brittany. Traditional crêperies still provide a carafe of the local brew, so this is also cider country. Its cuisine, however, is not limited to these dishes. A wide variety of high-quality dairy and baked artisan items, including biscuits, are produced locally and are readily available. In addition to cider, the craft beer industry in Brittany is booming, and in true Celtic fashion, the region also produces whiskey, gin, a plethora of liqueurs, and even wine.
