West France Travel Guide

Castles and Calvaries.

The most beautiful journey into the west of France leads along the Loire, passing its famous castles along the way. Before you reach the ocean there is a choice of going to Basse Normandie in the north, straight ahead into Brittany or southwards towards Poitou. The Basse Normandie begins near Honfleur, with Caen its capital. The fertile green farmland with its meadows and fields surrounded by hedges and idyllic villages belies the history of the region. It includes the seaside resorts of Deauville and Cabourg, Bayeux with its famous tapestry and the beautiful Cotentin peninsula, home to harbour town Cherbourg. This is a quiet region, serene and calm. Brittany begins near France’s number one tourist destination – the Mont St. Michel. The peninsula is large enough for its many visitors; it is nearly 250 km long and 100 to 150 km wide. Armor, the “land by the sea” has a rocky coast with tumbling cliffs and charming fishing hamlets. Inner Brittany is often called Argoat, “the forest”. It is still a region of deep faith and legends, and many a religious procession makes its way to the rocky crucifixion groups of the Calvary Mountains. However, Brittany, especially the Quiberon peninsula, the Gulf of Morbihan and all along the Atlantic coast to the seaside resort of La Baule is also a paradise in summer. The area around Nantes, the Loire estuary and the Poitou are called Pays de la Loire. West, the 150 metre high plateau continues into the Vendée region, a barren landscape with peculiar attraction. The coast has some particularly lovely destinations: the lively harbour town La Rochelle, the large islands Île de Ré and Île d'Oléron, the resort town Royan – room enough for a lovely retreat beside the sea.

West France travel guide by is this text outdated?

Latest Reviews for West France

Have you been here? Write a quick review:

 You are currently not logged in. Login or register to write a review.