6 Days In Brittany

Brittany, located in the north-west region of France is the one area which I had never visited, so my recent trip took me there but I only spent 6 days. Only 6 days in Brittany? It worked out well because I only did the central region and I was splitting my 18 day trip into two parts: Brittany and Provence. In this week’s post, I share my itinerary in Brittany and it covers some of my favourite hotels, sights and food finds. A map of the key sites is at the end.

While I paid for all my meals,  accommodations, and transportation, this post does contain affiliate links. If  you make a booking, I do earn a commission on each booking, at no cost to you. It helps support the running of this website and I do appreciate your help.

6 Days In Brittany: What’s Unique About This Itinerary?

  • My Brittany itinerary covers some of the popular towns and sights in northern Brittany and Normandy, and southern Brittany in about a week but organized so that I didn’t feel rushed.
  • The route basically cuts right down the centre of Brittany enabling me to see places in that corridor. I knew that in one week I could not do the far west coast of Brittany. That section would be for another trip.
  • Touring Brittany by car is the easiest way to see the sights. I rented from
    AutoEurope to do the road trip from north to south and before left, the price went down so I contacted the company and got a refund on the difference!  Driving around Brittany using this itinerary did not include long stretches of time in the car.
  • I was not changing hotels every day. I arranged to have 2 nights in each location and used those towns as my base for day trips.
  • It was the perfect road trip to take so that I could see some of Brittany and then hop on a train in Nantes to head to Provence.

[A map with all the locations is at the end of this post]

Day 1: Mont Saint-Michel

Mont Saint-Michel. J Chung
Mont Saint-Michel. J Chung

After arriving at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, I picked up a car and drove to Pontorson, which is a small town only 385 kilometres away. It took me 6 hours to get there because of all the traffic. Keep in mind that it was a Friday in May and everyone was leaving Paris to go to the countryside. (Mont Saint-MIchel lies in Normandy; however, the Bay du Mont Saint-Michel lies between Normandy and Brittany, so at times you’ll hear people say Mont Saint-Michel is in Brittany).

Breakfast at Villa Mons in Pontorson, France. J Chung
Breakfast at Villa Mons in Pontorson, France. J Chung

I chose this town because it is very close to Mont Saint-Michel (9 km), which was holding the Marathon du Mont Saint-Michel and I was running the Semi d’Avranches (half marathon) race. There aren’t many hotels in Mont Saint-Michel or at the foot of the Abbey, and the one I chose, Villa Mons, was a great find (and reasonably priced—88 Euros a night). It was beautifully furnished and modern with a big bedroom, big bathroom, and included a superb breakfast. The perfect base to do day trips.

I had dinner in the town at the Eugenie Hotel, located on the main street in Pontorson.  It was just around the the corner from my hotel. Their specialties are galettes (crêpes) and the vegetarian (with cheese) was quite good. This first day was occupied with picking up my race kit and resting before the big race.

Hotel:  Villa Mons (28 Rue Saint-Michel), Pontorson

Dinner: “Eugenie Hotel”, Pontorson

Day 2: Fougeres and Mont Saint-Michel

I took part in the Semi d’Avranches race in the morning. You take the (paid) shuttle to the town of Avranches, which is east of Mont Saint-Michel and then you run 21.1 kilometres back to town! There are some excellent views of the monastery but of course you don’t have to do a race to see it. It is a nice idea to take the D75 and D275 roads (which are parallel to the Bay) to get different perspectives of Mont Saint-Michel.

Incoming tide at Mont Saint-MIchel. J Chung
Incoming tide at Mont Saint-MIchel. J Chung

A visit to the Abbey at Mont Saint-Michel is definitely worth a visit but can get very crowded (which is one reason I didn’t want to stay in the town). I had already done it in a previous trip so I just walked around the walled-in town. When visiting, just be aware of the incoming tide. When I visited, the water was quickly getting higher and higher. I don’t know how long people had to wait before the tide went back down but you could see from the picture above that time was running out.

Lunch:  A (Good) Take Out

After the race, I headed back to Pontorson and picked up lunch from the local boulangerie  one of my favourite sandwiches: the “Rosette” which is also known as the “saucisson”. It is basically a baguette with butter and sausage. But the best part is the addition of a cornichon, which is a tiny gherkin pickle. My reward for my long run.

Fougères

Château de Fougères, Brittany France. J Chung
Château de Fougères, Brittany France. J Chung

After resting from my race, I drove to the St. James store just south of Pontorson to do a little shopping. They are known for the the authentic Breton blue and white striped tops and accessories.

I continued to drive south to Fougères, which is a prominent chateau in Brittany and is actually the oldest fortress in Europe. It is worthwhile walking throughout the ruins and you might be surprised to suddenly encounter farm animals. The goats, for example, hang out here, I suppose, to cut the grass. The town of Fougères is also quite nice to stroll. There is the Vieux Ville (old town) and many of the half-timbered houses are located in the area around Place du Marchix.

Dinner: “Le Pré Salé” (Route du Mont Saint Michel)

Before dinner I walked to the monastery of Mont Saint-Michel. I had been inside many years before so I only walked the ramparts and through the walled-in section. It was difficult finding a place to eat as I had gotten back to Mont Saint-Michel late; however on the road leading to Mont Saint-Michel and the Abbey is the Mercure Hotel. The hotel’s restaurant did still serve dinner and it did not disappoint.  I had pork medallions in a  cream and cider sauce.  Apple products and Calvados are particularly popular in this region.

After dinner: Photography at night

Mont Saint-Michel. J Chung
Mont Saint-Michel. J Chung

One thing I really enjoyed doing was going to the edge of town before the causeway begins. There I set up my camera to take photos of the monastery and I’m glad I did. The images were worth the cold wind. While it would have been perfect to have seen the sun setting, I was very happy nonetheless.

Hotel: Villa Mons (28 Rue Saint-Michel), Pontorson

Day 3: Cancale, Saint-Suliac, Dinan

1. Cancale

6 Days in Brittany: Cancale Harbour, France. J Chung
Cancale Harbour, France. J Chung
Cancale oyster market, Brittany, France. J Chung
Cancale oyster market, Brittany, France. J Chung

Cancale, known for harvesting oysters for centuries is the place for foodies to sample fresh seafood. It was Sunday (a long weekend) and even though it was raining off and on, it was crowded and difficult finding a parking space. All along the shore are restaurants and shops. While one would consider it very touristy, it was worth visiting, to see the market where all sorts of oysters are sold (ready to eat or in bulk) and to have a lunch with very fresh seafood.

Cancale oysters. J Chung
Cancale oysters. J Chung

In Cancale there are many restaurants but Restaurant á Contre Courant had good ratings and was right by the harbour so I ate there. Of course I had to have oysters (6) and I added moules marinères and wine. All for 20 Euros.

Lunch: “Restaurant á Contre Courant” (3 Place du Calvaire), Cancale

2. Saint-Suliac

Saint-Suliac, Brittany France. J Chung
Saint-Suliac, Brittany France. J Chung

My next stop was Saint-Suliac as it has been designated one of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France. Yes it was very pretty as it is on the coast; however, it was dead, likely because it was Sunday afternoon. Nothing seemed to be open and the only people around were tourists.

3. DInan

Maison La Tour, Dinan. J Chung
Maison La Tour, Dinan. J Chung

I stayed at Maison La Tour for the next 2 nights and it was wonderful. That’s all I can say. I loved it. While it is called a bed and breakfast, it was basically an apartment with a kitchen and terrace, located around the corner from Dinan’s old town. All the furnishings were brand new and breakfast was brought to your room (and included in the price).

The town of Dinan is a special town and I am so glad I stayed there. I couldn’t believe how many half-timbered houses there were as well as cobblestoned streets. You have to be very careful walking on these streets, especially when they are wet. When visiting Dinan, just walk. Walk everywhere and I promise you you’ll love what you see.

Dinan in Brittany, France. J Chung
Dinan in Brittany, France. J Chung

Dinan Hotel:  Maison La Tour (32 Rue Comté de la Garaye), Dinan.

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Day 4: St. Malo

Ramparts at St. Malo. J Chung
Ramparts at St. Malo. J Chung
St. Malo Maison du Quebec Robert Surcouf. J Chung
St. Malo Maison du Quebec Robert Surcouf. J Chung
  1. I headed to St. Malo which is a walled port city just 35 kilometres north of Dinan. Upon arriving I decided to walk around the entire town on the ramparts. There are many views of the Gulf of St. Malo and the English Channel as well as a lot of history. St. Malo is where explorer Jacques Cartier lived. He set sail from here in 1534 and claimed Canada for France. During one’s walk on the ramparts you will come upon monuments dedicated to Cartier as well as Maison du Quebec, a small house that is run by the government of Quebec and it provides cultural, travel, and work information about the province.
  2. After doing the ramparts, be sure to wander through the streets of St. Malo. There are many restaurants but one food discovery that is a Breton favourite is “Kouign-amann”, a cake that is dough with layers of butter and sugar. Through baking, the sugar caramelizes and it is very sweet and gooey. I had apples added to mine.
Kouign Amann in St. Malo. J Chung
Kouign Amann in St. Malo. J Chung
  • After St. Malo I was hoping to drive to Dinard, which is also on the Emerald coast of Brittany (Côte d’Émeraude of Brittany) but it was pouring rain, so I drove to the north coast to see some unique sculptures (where it had stopped raining!) In a previous post I wrote about this amazing site where over 300 rocks have been chiseled and sculpted by a blind abbot. Read the post here: Seeing Is Believing: Sculptured Rocks (Les Rochers Sculptés) In Brittany.
  • I tried to visit the Jacques Cartier Museum located just a few kilometres away from Rochers Sculptés. The museum is located in Cartier’s manor house, which used to be a farm house. I just missed their tour and you cannot visit it without being on a tour. During high season the tours are offered more frequently.
  • Dinan Hotel Maison La Tour (32 Rue Comté de la Garaye), Dinan.

    Day 5: Foret de Paimpont, Josselin, and Vannes

    With only 6 days in Brittany, I knew I couldn’t see it everything. So for my Day 5 itinerary,  my goal was to visit a few well known sites enroute, before reaching my hotel in Vannes, which is on the southern coast, along Brittany’s famous Gulf of Morbihan.

    1. Forêt de Paimpont

    First stop was at the Forêt de Paimpont (also known as Brocéliande). My post, Discovery In Brittany: King Arthur And The Brocéliande Forest Legend explains this unusual area.

    2. Josselin

    Château Josselin. J Chung
    Château Josselin. J Chung

    I then stopped in Josselin to see Château Josselin. This medieval fortress was built in   the 11th century and today, it is still lived in by members of the Rohan family. To visit you have to take a tour and when I went, the tour was in French. (English tours are only in July and August). In addition to the castle and the French gardens, there is also a doll museum which has a collection dating back to the 1700s.

    3. Vannes

    Vannes reminds me of Dinan.  It’s another medieval walled-in town with cobblestone streets and timbered houses. Some highlights of Vannes include walking along the port (where you can take a cruise of the Gulf of Morbihan) and through the town. Be sure to visit the area around Place Henri IV and take a look at the architecture, where you will really see “old town Breton”.Dinner was near the harbour at “Atlantique”. They specialize in seafood and I had an apéritif of Pommeau as well as fish soup, cod and rose wine (34 Euros).

    Vannes, France. J Chung
    Vannes, France. J Chung
    Vannes, France. J Chung
    Vannes, France. J Chung

    In Vannes, I stayed two nights at Ti Laouenek, a bed and breakfast guest house which is an easy 20 minute walk from the centre of Vannes. I was the only guest and had a separate living room off my bedroom and bathroom. Breakfast was a feast and the owners, Beatrice and Patrick Baillard, were extremely friendly and accommodating, providing me with lots of tourist information and many ideas for dinner.

    Vannes HotelTi Laouenek (16 Rue de Kervénic), Vannes

    Dinner: “Atlantique” (16 Place Gambetta), Vannes

    Day 6: Carnac, Quiberon coast, Rochefort-en-Terre, Vannes

    1. Carnac

    On my 6th day, I headed to Carnac. I toured around the area to see the megalithic alignments which I wrote about in an earlier post: Discover France’s Version Of Stonehenge: Carnac’s Megalithic Alignments .

    2. Quiberon Coast and Rochefort-en-Terre

    6 days in Brittany includes Rochefort-en-Terre. J Chung
    Rochefore-en-Terre (J. Chung)

    I also visited the Quiberon coast and to be honest, it was pretty boring. Maybe it’s different in the summer but no one was there and it was just the site of the ocean. But the next town was different. Rochefort-en-Terre, a town designated not only a “Petite Cité de Caractére” but also one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France. It is another lovely town but was particularly quiet which surprised me as it was the end of May. But having few tourists meant it was so much easier to wander around. As many have said, the town looks like it hasn’t been touched in hundreds of years. While it’s a small town, there are a number of tourist shops and restaurant.

    3. Vannes

    If you are in Brittany, you have to have some crêpes so La Crêperie du Port was an excellent place to have them. My choice was their Galette Popeye—goat’s cheese, ham, crème fraîche, and a ton of spinach. For dessert, an apple crêpe! With a 25 cl carafe of wine the total cost was 18 Euros.

    Vannes HotelTi Laouenek (16 Rue de Kervénic), Vannes

    Dinner: “La Crêperie du Port” (32 rue du Port), Vannes

    The next day I headed to Nantes to see Les Machines de L’île  and catch my train to Avignon! Quite the whirlwind journey, but I felt it was the perfect itinerary for seeing some of the the most beautiful sights in Brittany, where I wasn’t rushed and where I didn’t try to pack too much in. The three towns I chose  for my 6 days in Brittany (Pontorson, Dinan, and Vannes) were perfect for day tripping.

    If you’re interested in the full 18-day itinerary covering Brittany and Provence, check the page entitled Itinerary #28 . I’ll be adding my itinerary to Provence in the near future.

    Map Of My Route And Key Sites

    6 Days In Brittany Map of Sites

    Click on the map or on this link and you’ll be directed to a Google Map indicating all the places in this post.

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    11 Comments

    1. Keith Van Sickle says:

      Brittany is such a great part of France! So much history.
      My wife and I have good friends in California who are French (now also Americans) who spend part of the year in Tregastel in Brittany. We went to their son’s baptism there in the ancient village church and with a priest who might have been even older than the church! His Breton accent was so strong we had trouble understanding anything he said–quite a memorable day.

      1. What a wonderful region. I didn’t encounter any Breton that I didn’t understand, but granted I wasn’t in any small villages like you. What a great experience you had.

    2. I’ve read a few articles about Brittany over the years as well as novels using this lovely setting as the backdrop and have always found this remote area of France to be fascinating with its own unique culture and history. Loved reading about the beautiful villages that you visited and seeing your photos and oh, would I love to taste some of the offerings at the seafood markets! I’ve bookmarked this post, Jan as your itinerary is exactly my kind of slow travel with magnificent architecture and enough history for any history buff.

      1. Glad you liked it. Yes, it certainly is an area unlike the others I have visited. And, I will have to return!

    3. Cindy McCain says:

      This trip looks amazing! When you are ready to do it again, let’s go!

      1. Would love to meet up with you in France. It’s been ages!

    4. Michael McCarthy says:

      You must have taken the same route as us, we started in Nantes and continue along the coast to Saint-Nazaire, up the coat to Saint-Malo, and returned toward Rennes to Nantes. We had 12 days, we saw so much of the area and the people.

      1. Kathleen Linn says:

        Would you mind sharing your itinerary with me. My husband and I planning a 3-week trip to Brittany next year, last week in August and the first two week of September.
        Looking for restaurants, hotels, Vibro choices, etc.
        thank You

        1. The itinerary listed in my post, “6 Days In Brittany” pretty much covers some hotel recommendations and sites.

    5. Thanks Jan for the list of accommodations – it made for a very pleasant hour this afternoon, looking at the lodgings and dreaming. Happy to see that the hotel I had booked to stay in last May in Aix (the Globe) is on your list! That trip is on hold of course but nice to see that we made a good choice and looking forward to getting there eventually!
      Happy New Year!

      1. Glad you liked it. Nice to dream and get away from all the news and things going on in the world! Here’s to travelling to France sooner than later!