The history and heritage, castles and strongholds of Brittany

Brittany is steeped in history, starting with the megalithic sites that are scattered right across its region. Many in ruins, others spread out over quite a distance, and some with impressive standing stones emanating power and great age. The Carnac stones are an exceptionally interesting collection of megalithic stones situated in the village of Carnac, there are more than 3,000 of them, hewn from local stone and erected by the pre/proto-Celtic people of Brittany, and as such are the largest collection in the world.

The castles of Brittany hold their own with any in the world, many are in exceptionally good condition and still used today. Massive towers, battlements, bastions and drawbridges proliferate. The castle of the Dukes of Brittany in Sucinio stands proud square and smooth on its mound, Josselin castle shows off its pointed turrets, whilst Fogeres castle looks kind of spooky. Some have been absorbed into the structure of their towns like Vitre castle, others stand alone.

Lordly looking houses dominate tiny streets in many little towns that are so full of character. Military forts that were impregnable from land and sea in their heyday such as Ille et Vilaine, which can be reached at low tide from Saint-Malo’s main beach, is now a museum depicting Brittany’s violent past with invasions from the sea.

The countryside is dotted with crosses and the fervently religious Bretons did not stint at building abbeys, churches and chapels, many are open to those that love to visit and roam cloisters and walled gardens.

There is a predominance of museums that will provide all the information you could wish for about maritime history, war, or just Breton culture. Eco museums are particularly helpful in letting you experience Brittany in days gone by.

Every village, and town, in Brittany has its own history full of tales, anecdotes and legends, both true and wished for that only need the inquisitive stranger to enquire about, from any local in a friendly bar.