Land's End and New Beginnings

The Breton peninsula divides naturally into distinct coastal regions, each with its own character, shaped by geology, weather, and the communities that have made their lives here. From the oyster beds of Cancale to the surf breaks of La Torche, from the pink granite chaos of Ploumanac'h to the pristine beaches of Belle-Île, Brittany offers not one coast but many, united by a shared maritime heritage and an independent spirit that sets this region apart.

To understand Brittany's coast, one must first understand its relationship with the rest of France. This was an independent duchy until 1532, with its own language, laws, and customs. That independence was hard-won and fiercely defended, shaped by the peninsula's position at the edge of the known world. When you couldn't escape by land, you took to the sea. This created a culture of mariners—fishermen, merchants, corsairs, and explorers—who looked outward to the ocean rather than inward to Paris.