France is filled with beautiful, charming, medieval towns that await you with exciting history and culture. Here are three cities of our favorites in Britany: Saint-Malo, Dinan and Vannes - three wonderful towns you should put on your bucket list for your trip to France.
Saint-Malo, the Corsairs' city with well-preserved ramparts
The jewel of Brittany’s Emerald Coast on the northern tip of Ille-et-Vilaine, Saint-Malo is an enthralling port town with an ever-changing landscape and one of the world’s greatest tidal ranges.
It’s a place of history and legend with well-preserved ramparts, cobbled streets, and old stone buildings – as well as the birthplace of several illustrious historical characters from Brittany – and offers visitors an authentic glimpse into the region’s important seafaring past. It’s also the gateway to the Channel Islands.
Don’t miss…
- A tour of the ramparts
- Saint-Vincent cathedral
- The Grand Aquarium, home to 600 species of fish from cold and hot waters across the globe
- Musée de la Ville
- Le Manoir de Limoëlou, housing a museum to Breton explorer Jacques Cartier, who discovered Canada
- The tidal islands of Grand Bé and Petit Bé
Learn more: St-Malo Tourist Office www.saint-malo-tourisme.co.uk
Dinan a typical city from the Middle Ages
Set high above the Rance river, Dinan and its 14th-century castle are enclosed by 3km of stone walls. Start at the marina and enjoy a walk along the estuary, before ascending to see the town’s crooked timber-framed houses with pointed gables which are straight out of the Middle Ages.
Don’t miss... * The old rampart walkway * Dinan’s castle, with 14th-century dungeon built into its ramparts and classified as a historical monument * The Saint-Malo church (15th-19th centuries), Saint-Sauveur basilica (12th-19th centuries) and Convent des Cordeliers (15th century), all gems of religious art in the middle ages * The governor's house (15th century), Hotel de Beaumanoir (16th century) and Mère Pourcel’s house (15th century) * Rue du Jerzual, the town’s main street and arguably its most beautiful, awash with artisans
Learn more: Dinan Tourist Office Rance Valley 9 rue du Château 22105 Dinan Tel: +33 (0)2 96 87 69 76 infos@dinan-tourisme.com www.dinan-tourisme.com
Vannes, a breton medieval pictural town
Beautiful Vannes overlooks the Golfe du Morbihan, a network of winding alleys and pretty squares with splendid fortifications and a picture-perfect marina.
There’s a plethora of great bars and restaurants here and it’s an excellent base from which to explore Morbihan’s islands too.
Don’t miss…
- A tour of the ramparts
- La Cohue (Musée des Beaux Arts)
- Musée d’Histoire et d’Archéologie
- Cathédrale St-Pierre
- Bilboquet, an old-fashioned toy shop
Learn more: Vannes Tourist Office http://en.tourisme-vannes.com/
By France.fr
The magazine of the destination unravels an unexpected France that revisits tradition and cultivates creativity. A France far beyond what you can imagine…
