French Brittany, discovering the “Côte Ouest”
Atlantic beaches, spectacular tides, charming villages and Breton gastronomy, all the ingredients for a trip that deserves a stop.
And as is already a tradition in Néboa, we will make this trip through a small and careful selection of brands, experiences, design, style, accommodation and culture.
Ready to enjoy the Breton Atlantic Style?
Culture
Brittany is one of the Celtic nations along with Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, Isle of Man, Galicia and Asturias.
These last two, despite not having a Celtic language spoken in modern history, are already considered part of the Celtic nations due to the multiple connections and proven scientific evidence.
In an exhibition at the British Museum on Celtic identity, you can read “In continental Europe the modern Celtic identity only holds strong in Bretagne”.
The archaeologist Cunliffe says that the roots of the Celtic language are in the Atlantic and in the Neolithic, so the Atlantic identity that unites all these landscapes and cultures makes a lot of sense.
Nature
Brittany is on the Côte Ouest of France.
It is the western region of the country and therefore bathed by the Atlantic Ocean.
In this tour I have selected perhaps the most unknown and northern coast of the Breton region, there are many more corners that deserve to be discovered, but they will be left for another trip.
Le Côte de les Légendes
Scented with sea breezes, this stretch of coast is the northern in the Brittany region.
Some interesting corners in the Côte des Légendes are the seaside town of Plounéour, Brignogan Plages with its maritime atmosphere and the famous lighthouse of Pontusval.
This lighthouse is located at the tip of Beg-Pol, north of the port of Plounéour – Brignogan-Plages.
It was listed as a historical monument and witnessed numerous shipwrecks. His last lighthouse keeper had lived there since 1968 and retired in 2003
The Meneham site in Kerlouan, a completely restored village of farmers and fishermen where you will find houses built in the hollow of ancient granite blocks or the impressive Folgoët basilica and its famous procession in September, one of the most important in Brittany .
The Côte des Légendes is also a protected space with three Natura 2000 classified areas.
The Goulven Bay in Tréflez, the Curnic marsh in Guissény and the Langazel wetland in Ploudaniel, Trémaouézan.
They are perfect spaces for walking and bird watching.
But what gives this coastline facing the English Channel its unique character are undoubtedly its imposing blocks of granite, rounded by wind and centuries, that dot the coastline and rise inland.
And finally, and if you like to swim in the cold Atlantic waters, a slightly different experience is the Aquatic Hike (Marche Aquatique) through the three beaches of the Côte des Légendes; Crapauds beach and Kerurus beach in Plounéour, Brignogan-Plages or Meneham beach in Kerlouan.
You enter the water up to your knees, thighs or hips (depending on your courage) and in addition to toning all your muscles you play sports and enjoy the nature.
Two organizations are the ones that carry out these aquatic marches: Randoplouf and Marche Aquatique Pagan.
I would personally love to try it!
GASTRO
As a first gastronomic stop, these Breton products created from legends of the Brocéliande Forest and Fairy Tales of Mont Saint-Michel Bay look very good.
Nothing more Atlantic than the edible seaweed harvested and packaged by Bord à bord in Brittany. If you want to know quick recipes with algae, their history and culture or curiosities about these algae gardens, don’t miss their page.
The Breton Galettes are also a delicacy that you should not miss. Made with Buckwheat.
The traditional one is called La Complète which is made of ham, cheese and egg and is the queen of galettes.
And although the traditional one is salty, you can’t miss the sweet one made with the traditional Salidou (salted butter and caramel), my favourite.
