Ille-et-Vilaine, and

Ille-et-Vilaine, and Morbihan. But they all share common traits – access to the coast as well as to the countryside, plus a laid-back lifestyle. BRITTANY: Little Britain You're never far from the sea in Brittany in the west of France. Small bays, inlets, rocky outcrops and sandy beaches surround this luscious and beautiful country which has inspired generations of artists. This ancient land boasts menhirs and all sorts of pre-historic remains, their meanings lost in the mists of time. As with any ancient land imbued with myths and legends, it boasts its own language. Breton (Brezhoneg) is related closely to Cornish and more distantly Welsh. Brittany is made up of four quite distinct departments: Côtes-d'Armor, Finistère, A potted history of Brittany Once called Armorica, following the fall of the Roman Empire it was peopled by migrating waves of Britons in the 4th and 5th centuries. They gave this beautiful land the name 'Little Britain.’ Later the Duchy of Brittany had its embassy in London on Little Britain street! In time it became known simply as Brittany. Those early Bretons brought with them their own customs, language and knowledge of seafaring. And though the tribes were many, and divided, they had a common enemy – France! Several battles resolved the issue and the French king, Charles the Bald recognised independent Brittany as a Duchy. Brittany governed itself for the next 600 years – it took a marriage for it to become part of France. Anne of Brittany was the last independent ruler. She was married to Charles VIII of France (not willingly) and when he died (childless) in 1498, she married his successor Louis XII, in 1499. They had two daughters and under the terms of their marriage contract when her daughter Claude married Francis of Angoulême – who became Francis I – Brittany was eventually subsumed into greater France in 1532, though the Bretons still maintained some autonomy. It took the French Revolution to finally change this by abolishing feudal privilege. Brittany has a unique culture The Breton language is making a resurgence and cultural activities abound throughout the region with all sorts of festivals year-round to celebrate Breton culture. The Festival of Brittany showcases Breton culture with more 102 | The Good Life France The Good Life France | 103