Brittany occupies the Breton Peninsula in north-west France and is flanked by the English Channel to the north and the Bay of Biscay and the Atlantic Ocean to the south and west. The region of Brittany is visually stunning, offering some 600 miles of spectacular rugged coastline known as the Rose Coast, due to the pale reddish colour of the granite on which the peninsula stands.
Brittany was home to the Celts who fled Britain during the Anglo-Saxon conquest in the seventh century and the Breton language, which is still common in the region, is akin to both Cornish and Welsh. Also common to both Brittany and western Britain are the Neolithic features which litter the landscape, the most famous of these being Carnac, which is home to over 3,000 standing stones.
Home to many traditional French manor houses and chateaux, along with the beautiful rolling hills of the largely rural landscape, Brittany is perfect for a short jaunt across the channel as it is served by a number of ports on Britain’s southern coastline. To tempt you across the channel we’ve hand picked several French Chateaux to rent in Brittany:
Manoir de Chalandes is a fourteenth century manor house situated within extensive gardens which have been compared to the famous ‘Monet’s Garden’ near Paris. This luxury French chateau sleeps 19 adults in nine double rooms and one single room. For added finesse, this chateau also features it’s very own heated spa!
Sitting on the edge of Morbihan in southern Brittany, this French chateau is perfect for day trips to the Gulf of Morbihan and the standing stones of Carnac as well as Brittany’s principal city of Rennes.
Manoir de la Haute dates from 1880 and sleeps 12 guests. Located close to Saint-Malo and offering lovely views across the bay, this French manor house is perfect for exploring Brittasny’s northern coastline. A path leads directly from the garden to a small private beach and a myriad of coastal pathways just waiting to be explored are right on the doorstep.
This French holiday rental is perfectly located with spectacular sea views and a private beach. Plus there’s plenty to do nearby including sailing and yachting, the shops, bars and restaurants in Dinard and nearby Saint-Malo and beatuful fishing villages litter the coastline on both directions.
Manoir De Kervegat is a fantastic fifteenth century manor house set within seven acres of lovely managed gardens. Visually this French chateau has changed very llittle of the last five hundred years, however inside you’ll be pleased to find a fully equipped kitchen, TV & DVD in the large dining room and even a badminton court and table tennis.
The beautiful sandy beaches of Plestin les Greves are a short drive away or a good walk if you’d prefer a woodland stroll through the beautiful countryside which surrounds this French chateau. For a grand day out we recommend a drive around the stunning coastal roads of Finistère (which means ‘end of the world’) to the busy port town of Brest which has plenty of traditional Breton cuisine on offer.