Eastern Brittany and the north coast
France > Brittany > Eastern

River Rance

All roads in Brittany curl eventually inland to Rennes, the capital, which lies a short way northeast of the legendary Forêt de Paimpont, the location of the Arthurian tales. East of Rennes, the heavily fortified citadels of Fougères and Vitré guarded the eastern approaches to medieval Brittany, which was obliged vigorously to defend its independence against incursors. Along the north coast, west of Normandy's Mont St-Michel, stand some of Brittany's finest old towns. One of the most spectacular introductions to the province is that which greets ferry passengers from Portsmouth; the River Rance, guarded by magnificently preserved St-Malo on its estuary, and beautiful medieval Dinan 20km upstream. Further west stretches a varied coastline that culminates in one of the most seductive of the islands, the Île de Bréhat, and the colourful chaos of the Côte de Granit Rose.