The scenery
• One single province with two strong characters. There is maritime Brittany, the better known one, with its tales of sailors, its islanders (the sea of Iroise) and its many jewels of marine nature between the Channel and the Atlantic: the heath lands of the Crozon peninsula, the rocks in the major site of the pointe du Raz, the dunes of Gâvres-Quiberon or the reefs of Cap Fréhel...
Then there is inland Brittany, often full of surprises, from the Monts d'Arrée (in the heart of the Armorique regional park) to the "Marches" (steps) of Brittany (the historic frontier of the ancient dukedom), and also the deep, mysterious forests, including that of Paimpont also known as "Brocéliande", which have given rise to so many Celtic legends, scene of the tales of King Arthur and Merlin the Magician!
Gastronomy and local produce
• The ocean provides a large proportion of Breton flavours and resources: fish, shellfish, and even seaweed! Nori, Kombu and Wakamé: certain varieties are now appreciated in various recipes in gourmet circles. But agricultural Brittany is also very present with its culinary traditions such as the buckwheat pancake or "galette" (and of course all the crêpes!) and typical products: the Coco beans (PDO) from Paimpol, artichokes from the pays de Léon (around Roscoff), etc. And don't forget the precious (but extremely rare) honey from the black bees on the île d'Ouessant: this delicacy is 100% organic due to the isolation of this bit of land in the middle of the sea...
Hiking
• For hiking, the GR 34 is an emblem of Brittany, as it follows close to the coastline and the famous customs officers' path, passing among the astonishing rocks of pink granite in Perros-Guirec or the delightful shores of the golfe du Morbihan, a real ocean "Riviera"! The GR 380 crosses the Monts d'Arrée (rounded hills climbing up to an altitude of 400m on average) and its wild countryside, near Huelgoat and Landivisiau...
Cyclotourism
• The mountain biking site (with FFC approval) of the Monts d'Arrée provides some wonderful sensations for cyclists. There is also a delightful family cycle path (green route) that stretches for 17 km along the Rance (in the region of Dinard, a medieval town), the river which flows into the sea near Dinan and Saint-Malo, and other superb little towns in the Côtes d'Armor. To the south, a green route runs through the charming green vallée de l'Oust, between Mauron-Questembert and the region of Vannes. This will soon extend as far as the Rhyuis peninsula.
Navigable waterways
• Still to the south of Brittany, the canal de Nantes à Brest provides banks which are ideal for cyclists as well as extremely pleasant river tourism possibilities. It flows through towns and villages full of character, such as Malestroit and Josselin, crowned with a powerful and magnificent castle.
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