Bretanha, France: things to do, when to go and how to get there

Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

A Bretanha occupies the peninsula in northwest France, between the English Channel and the Atlantic. The region has its own culture: the Breton language appears on bilingual signs alongside French, and Rennes, for example, is also written Roazhon.

Rennes is the regional capital and the rail gateway: the TGV leaves from Paris-Montparnasse and takes about 1h30. The old town has hundreds of half-timbered houses, the maisons à pans de bois, as well as the Parlement de Bretagne, the Parc du Thabor and the Marché des Lices, the large Saturday market.

Saint-Malo lies on the north coast, about 70 km from Rennes. The old town, called Intra-Muros, is surrounded by granite walls. At low tide the sea retreats so far that you can walk to islets like the Grand Bé and the Fort National. The bay’s tides are among the largest in Europe.

At the table, Bretanha is land of crêpes and galettes, of cider served in a ceramic bowl and of Cancale oysters. Near Saint-Malo, the Mont-Saint-Michel, already in Normandy, is close enough for a day trip.

This destination brings together 2 cities: Rennes, Saint-Malo.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Bretanha is

Contornos: © IGN, ADMIN EXPRESS, Licence Ouverte 2.0. Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Bretanha

✈ Aéroport Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle (CDG), in Roissy-en-France · 360 km to Rennes

✈ Aéroport de Rennes-Bretagne (RNS), in Saint-Jacques-de-la-Lande · 7 km to Rennes

By train, the TGV links Paris-Montparnasse to Rennes in about 1h30 and to Saint-Malo in roughly 2h15. Rennes has an airport with domestic and European flights. Check before purchasing.

Suggested arrival point: Rennes

Bretanha · Bretanha Capital Suggested arrival point

Rennes

Capital of Bretanha, Rennes has an old center of timber-framed houses, the Vieux Rennes, which escaped the fire of 1720. The city features the Parlement de Bretagne, the Cathédrale Saint-Pierre, the Portes Mordelaises, the Parc du Thabor, the Saturday Marché des Lices, the cultural center Les Champs Libres and the Musée des Beaux-Arts.

Bretanha · Bretanha

Saint-Malo

Walled city on the edge of the English Channel, Saint-Malo has the Intra-Muros surrounded by the remparts, the Cathédrale Saint-Vincent and tides that are among the largest in Europe. At low tide you can walk to Fort National and Grand Bé, and the Piscine de Bon-Secours appears on the sand. Nearby are the Grand Aquarium, Dinard, Cancale, the Pointe du Grouin and Dinan.

The local experience

Things to do in Bretanha

Saint-Malo · Bretanha · Historic neighborhood

Remparts de Saint-Malo

Saint-Malo's granite walls encircle the Intra-Muros, the old town, for about 1.8 km. The elevated walkway circles around with views of the sea, the beaches and the islets.

Rennes · Bretanha · Historic neighborhood

Vieux Rennes

Rennes' old centre brings together colorful half-timbered houses that escaped the 1720 fire, on streets like Rue du Chapitre and around Place Sainte-Anne.

Saint-Malo · Bretanha · Monument

Fort National

Fort built in 1689 on an islet opposite the walls, designed by Vauban. At low tide it can be reached on foot across the sand; the interior visit is guided.

Rennes · Bretanha · Palace

Parlement de Bretagne

17th-century palace that was the seat of the Parlement de Bretagne and today houses the court of appeal. The Grand'Chambre has gilded ceilings and allegorical paintings; visits are guided only.

See 14 more places in Bretanha

Saint-Malo · Bretanha · Island

Grand Bé

Small islet in front of the ramparts where the writer Chateaubriand's tomb is located. At low tide you can walk there from the plage de Bon-Secours.

Rennes · Bretanha · Park

Parc du Thabor

Park of more than ten hectares in the centre of Rennes that mixes a French formal garden, an English-style garden and a botanical garden, with greenhouses, an aviary and a rose garden.

Rennes · Bretanha · Cathedral

Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Rennes

Cathedral in the old town, with a classical granite façade and a gilded neoclassical interior, completed in the 19th century. It is the seat of the archdiocese of Rennes, Dol and Saint-Malo.

Saint-Malo · Bretanha · Beach

Piscine de Bon-Secours

A seawater swimming pool built in 1936 on the plage de Bon-Secours, at the foot of the ramparts. At high tide it is covered by the sea, which renews the water.

Saint-Malo · Bretanha · Cathedral

Cathédrale Saint-Vincent de Saint-Malo

Former Romanesque and Gothic cathedral in the center of the Intra-Muros, heavily damaged in 1944 and restored until 1972, with modern stained glass windows.

Rennes · Bretanha · Market

Marché des Lices

Large producers' market on Saturday mornings, on Place des Lices and in the iron pavilions of the Halles Martenot, with about 290 stalls selling Breton food.

Saint-Malo · Bretanha · Aquarium

Grand Aquarium Saint-Malo

Aquarium opened in 1996 at the entrance to Saint-Malo, with around 10,000 marine animals and a 360-degree circular tank with sharks and turtles.

Rennes · Bretanha · Museum

Les Champs Libres

Cultural centre designed by Christian de Portzamparc that houses the Musée de Bretagne, the library and the Espace des sciences, with a planetarium, between the station and the centre.

Saint-Malo · Bretanha · Seaside resort

Dinard

Seaside resort on the other side of the Rance estuary, known for its Belle Époque mansions and for the British film festival. By boat, the crossing from Saint-Malo is short.

Rennes · Bretanha · Museum

Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rennes

Art museum on the banks of the Vilaine, with works from Antiquity to the 20th century, including Le Nouveau-né (The Newborn) by Georges de La Tour. Access to the permanent collections is free.

Saint-Malo · Bretanha · Fishing village

Cancale

Fishing village about 15 km from Saint-Malo, famous for its oysters, which are eaten at the harbour facing the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel.

Rennes · Bretanha · Monument

Portes Mordelaises

Old main city gate from the 15th century, with two towers, machicolations and traces of the drawbridge. It is the largest remaining section of Rennes' medieval walls.

Saint-Malo · Bretanha · Medieval town

Dinan

Walled medieval town about 30 km from Saint-Malo, on a hill above the river Rance, with ramparts, a castle and more than a hundred half-timbered houses.

Saint-Malo · Bretanha · Observation deck

Pointe du Grouin

Rocky point 40 metres above the sea, north of Cancale, with views that stretch from cap Fréhel to Granville and the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From May to September the days are long and the weather is milder; July and August are the busiest months on the coast. The climate is oceanic, with rain possible year-round. The spring and autumn equinoxes—March/April and September/October—tend to bring stronger spring tides.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Three or four days are enough for a day in Rennes and two in Saint-Malo, with an excursion to Dinard, Cancale or Dinan. With five days you can fit a day trip to Mont-Saint-Michel. If short on time, see Rennes en route and stay overnight in Saint-Malo.

Which city to stay in

In Rennes, the historic center between the Place Sainte-Anne and the Place de la République makes everything walkable; the area around Gare de Rennes is convenient for rail arrivals. In Saint-Malo, staying within the walls, in the Intra-Muros, places you close to the ramparts and the beaches; Saint-Servan and the Sillon waterfront are calmer options, linked by bus to the old town.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Bretanha

How many days to allocate for Rennes and Saint-Malo?

Three or four days work well: one in Rennes and two or three in Saint-Malo, taking in excursions to Dinard, Cancale, Dinan and the Pointe du Grouin. With an extra day you can include Mont-Saint-Michel.

Do I need to rent a car?

Not for the cities: trains connect Paris, Rennes and Saint-Malo, and the centers are walkable. A car is helpful for Cancale, the Pointe du Grouin, Dinan and Mont-Saint-Michel, though there are regional buses and excursions; check schedules.

What's the difference between a crêpe and a galette?

The galette is made with buckwheat flour (blé noir) and typically has a savory filling, like ham, egg and cheese. The crêpe uses regular wheat flour and is usually sweet. In crêperies both are served with cider, traditionally poured into a ceramic bowl called a bolée.

Can you visit Mont-Saint-Michel from Bretanha?

Yes. Mont-Saint-Michel is in Normandy, about an hour by car from Saint-Malo and a bit farther from Rennes. There are buses and excursions; check schedules and plan the visit according to the tide tables.

Bretanha

A region to enjoyat your own pace.