 Listed below are some popular tourist attractions in Brittany, France.
Le Mont St-Michel
The most visited attraction in France, Le Mont St-Michel is an island which rises off the NE coast of
Brittany and is joined by a causeway (above right) to the mainland. On top of the 80m high island is a
fascinating monastery.
Location: To reach Le Mont St-Michel, follow the D976 north from Pontorson in NE Brittany.
Recommendations: There is a large car park at the end of the causeway, but in peak season you should get
there very early, alternatively you can arrive later in the day as the crowds die down. If you want to
avoid the cost of the monastery, go up the steps on the right just after the drawbridge for the walk along
the Chemin des Ramparts. Don’t venture onto the sands around the island at low tide – the incoming tide moves
at an incredible pace in this area and can spell serious danger!
Oceanopolis
Océanopolis is a huge, exciting exhibition of all things connected with the sea. You’ll need
a full day to make the most of your visit, with aquariums, live shows and over 1000 species of living
creatures. Discover the world’s oceans in the 3 pavilions: Polar (with penguins, seals and real ice floe),
Tropical (underwater views of sharks and coral reefs) and Temperate (many aspects of the sea around Brittany
including seals and jellyfish). Prices are very reasonable.
Oceanopolis is located in Brest on the north west coast of Brittany, Follow the N165-E60 towards the centre
of Brest and you’ll find Oceanopolis on the waterfront, between the Port de Commerce and the Port de
Plaisance, near the main railway station.
Its an excellent place for a rainy day but get there early then you can finish your day with a few hours on
the adjacent beaches or marinas, or take a boat trip to the Ile d’Ouessant, situated one hour to the west of
Brest. Once there you can get around by bike or minibus.
Château de Combourg
The pretty lakeside village of Combourg is dominated by the boyhood home of Romantic writer Viscount
René de Chateaubriand (1768-1848), the thick-walled, four-tower Château de Combourg.
Topped with "witches' cap" towers that the poet likened to Gothic crowns, the castle dates mainly
from the 14th and 15th centuries.
La Bourbansais (zoo)
Between Dinan and Combourg is the château La Bourbansais, built in the 1580s. Most of the interior
furnishings date from the 18th century, including the fine collection of porcelain and tapestries.
Its extensive gardens contain a small zoo, a playground for children, and a picnic area. A pack of
hunting hounds perform a popular 20-minute show called La Meute from April through September.
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