Brest / Brittany

Situated on the tip of Finistère, Brest, the city of five ports, feels like the edge of the world. Its superb wild coastline contrasts with its urban character, where art deco and modernism rub shoulders. Metamorphosed by the tramway and cable car, the city has reinvented itself over the years. The Penfeld river runs through the town, and at its mouth you can discover the National Maritime Museum, housed in a medieval castle that overlooks the port and offers visitors some lovely panoramic views. On the other bank, the medieval Tanguy Tower recounts the history of the town. Near the Moulin Blanc marina, the Océanopolis scientific centre, dedicated to ocean discovery, is the largest aquarium in France, with three themed pavilions devoted to marine, polar, tropical and temperate ecosystems.

?Take the cable car to the left bank and visit the Atelier des Capucins, a major leisure and cultural centre for Brest residents, with its media library, climbing gym, shops, maritime innovations gallery, virtual reality park, etc. Below the workshop, you'll find the oldest street in Brest, rue Saint-Malo, with its cobblestones and 17th-century granite houses.?

The area around Brest also offers plenty to explore: the Petit Minou lighthouse on its rocky headland stretching into the harbour at Plouzané, the Crozon peninsula in the Armorique Regional Nature Park with its sheer cliffs and turquoise coves, the 12th-century Daoulas abbey and its remarkable garden...?

From the pretty port of Le Conquet, you can set sail for the island of Ouessant, the most westerly land 20km off the Breton coast, renowned for the wild beauty of its landscapes. You'll see that Finistère is a destination not to be missed, with its remarkable coastline, fine sandy beaches, hiking trails including the famous GR34, and picturesque harbours...