Travelling through Brittany is a journey through medieval France. Small villages pop up every 10 km and all have churches. The streets are paved and everything is built in stone. Around Brittany everything is in two languages, French and Breton and they also have 4000 year old remains. Travelling through Brittany is an adventure.
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The Breton language
In Brittany, not only French is spoken, but also Breton. Breton is an ancient Celtic language, which is unfortunately under threat. The language is related to Cornish in Cornwall and is also related to Cymric in Wales. Breton is thought to have arrived in Brittany in the 6th century as British groups fled the British Isles from the Anglo-Saxons.
Breton is mainly spoken in the western part of Brittany, but the language is declining in size. In the 1980s there were around 600 000 speakers. Today there are only 200,000 speakers, most of whom are over 60 years old. Breton is neither an official language of France nor of Brittany, but has been recognised as one of France's regional languages.
Stone houses and narrow roads
When travelling through Brittany, you pass through countless small villages with stone houses that make you feel like you have travelled many hundreds of years back in time. Each village has a church, a town hall, a small kiosk selling tobacco and newspapers, a boulangerie (bakery) and a patisserie (pastry shop). You really can't go wrong!
Travelling through Brittany
The villages are charming, and very small. You barely have time to enter them before you have to leave them again. The roads are narrow and winding and not really suitable for motorhomes ... but there are buses here and if you take it easy it's no problem.
We enjoy travelling this way instead of the main roads and there is plenty to see. Some places you won't want to miss in Brittany:
Fricampa - the quest for electricity
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Instead, we have found a regular car park with electric poles. So tonight we've plugged in our cable (a bit secretly) and are charging everything we have to charge: computers, phones, camera batteries, tablets, electric toothbrush...
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Role o Carina says:
Great, you will see so much on your trip!
It is fun to follow you 🙂
Enjoy....
15 December 2014 - 20:47
Ditte says:
Nice! And as much as you can see. And luckily the essentials are in the villages so you won't be left without...
15 December 2014 - 21:21
BP says:
You have only been away for two weeks and have already seen so many interesting things. Great to join you!
15 December 2014 - 21:43
Scottish Moments says:
My first thought was, are they in Scotland!
The village is very reminiscent of Scottish villages :)
15 December 2014 - 22:03
Snows says:
Narrow roads are usually very interesting 😉 .
15 December 2014 - 23:06
admin says:
Rolle and Carina, glad you want to join our tours! Have a good time!
Ditte, haha yes, that's lucky. We rarely find grocery stores in the villages, but it's lucky that there are pastries then!
😉
BP, lots to see here in France! Glad you're joining us!
Scottish Moments, interesting to hear! We have often felt that the villages and the landscape and the weather could be reminiscent of England, Ireland, Scotland...!
Znogge, extra exciting to try to get around with a big car...
😉
15 December 2014 - 23:43
Inga M says:
This looks almost medieval. As if time has stood still.
16 December 2014 - 7:09
Mr Steve says:
It has been powerful to follow your journey along the powerful coastline. Narrow winding roads between charming French villages bring back memories for me. Hope things continue to go well for you. Take care!
16 December 2014 - 9:12
admin says:
No M, that's how it felt in a large part of Brittany! Many villages with very old houses!
Steve, I'm so glad you're following our journey and commenting! Thank you, now we continue southwards.
16 December 2014 - 11:06