France is a pre-eminent holiday destination, enjoying especial popularity amongst British travellers in the summertime. This incredible country has everything, from culturally significant cities to rural wonders and incredible weather beside; its proximity to, and ease of access from, England is also a major factor in its popularity.
The modern marvel that is the Channel Tunnel has made it a trifle to travel to France by car or campervan, giving you the golden opportunity to tour this magnificent country by road. There are a great many places you should explore this way this summer, but Brittany is up there amongst them. It is a region that contains multitudes, so where should you be visiting on your own caravan tour of the peninsula?
Ensuring a Safe Trip
Of course, holidaying by campervan brings its own subset of risks and challenges, above and beyond the conventional worries that come with summer holiday travel. For one, if you haven’t driven your camper in a while you’ll need to make sure your motorhome insurance is up to date – to say nothing of the mechanical checks you should be making before setting off!
After checking your tyres and fluids, make sure to stock up on essentials like emergency food, first aid and tools to help you navigate any potential hitches you encounter on French roads! With that out of the way, let’s now look at some of the best places to visit in this astounding region.
The Gulf of Morbihan
The Gulf of Morbihan is an astonishing inlet on the southern coast of Brittany, containing a number of small islands – each of which have their own tourist draws. Parking your camper on the mainland, in the likes of Vannes (a walled town, the largest in the area and a place worth exploring in its own right), you could then travel by boat to Île-aux-Moines; Île-aux-Moines is a stunningly beautiful island with a population of around 600. It is also home to the Dolmen de Penhap, a megalithic tomb with key historical significance.
Dinan
Dinan is an extremely picturesque Breton town with medieval roots, in the north-eastern reaches of Brittany. Its ramshackle streets and medieval ramparts are a feast for the eyes, as are the banks of the Rance River which runs through it.
Saint Malo
Saint Malo is another coastal destination in Brittany, this time jutting out from the shore instead of folding inwards; Saint Malo is a port city, with many walls and defences still standing in spite of the town’s ravaging by World War II bombs. The beaches are beautiful, and the Cathedral of St. Vincent is a must-visit.
Carnac
Finally, we come to Carnac – a peninsular commune west of the Gulf of Morbihan, and an area of great historical significance thanks to its neoeolithic monuments and artefacts. The Carnac stones are the major historical draw here, being standing stones numbering in the thousands, thought to have been arranged as early astronomical observation tools. Their history and usage remains somewhat of a mystery, but beholding them in person is no less magical.
