Brittany is a dramatic and beautiful part of north western
France and is often compared with Cornwall in the UK for the similarity of its landscape and its culture including the local Breton language. With beautiful sandy beaches embraced by rocky headlands and soaring cliffs, it’s a photographer’s dream and one of the most popular destinations for British holidaymakers and those who’ve bought second homes in France. Rennes is the centre of the region and a great hub to start your tour of Brittany.
Getting to Brittany by Car
Most people will arrive from
Caen or
St Malo by ferry from the UK. From St Malo, the D137 goes directly into the centre of Rennes. If arriving from Caen, the A84 takes you into Rennes centre. Despite it being an autoroute, there are no tolls on this stretch of road. From
Nantes, it’s an N road, the N137 which is a free road with many stretches of dual carriageway.
Toll Roads to Brittany
Travelling from the capital,
Paris, you’ll use the A11 followed by the A81 for which toll charges amount to €28.10. If you don’t like the idea of a sea journey, you can fly from several airports on the south coast of the UK to Rennes Saint-Jacques Airport and hire a car from there. Once in Brittany, travelling around is easy on the network of good D roads.
To get to Saint-Brieuc and on to Morlaix and Brest from Rennes, take the N12, often dual carriageway, and elsewhere a high quality two way road that is rarely busy until you reach the towns. From Rennes to get to Vannes and on to Lorient and Qimper, take the N24 and turn off on the N166 if going to Vannes only. Again, with dual carriageway in places and quiet two way roads elsewhere driving around this part of Brittany will be a pleasure.
There are many other smaller roads that link the north and south coastal roads which take you over dramatic countryside and through quaint timeless villages. Brittany is all about exploring, and from the fishing villages with the fishermen wearing their traditional hooped jumpers to the dairy farms of the countryside selling cream and butter direct from the farm, you’ll find it a unique holiday destination.
Toll Roads in France by Region;
Posted:
August 30, 2012
by
Phil Partridge
About the Author -
Travel writer, car rental guru, Phil has rented cars all over the world and shares his knowledge and experience on the Rhinocarhire.com Blog. Favourite country to visit: France.