10+ Beautiful Towns in Brittany You Won’t Want to Miss

Last Updated on 2nd July 2024 by Sophie Nadeau

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The jagged coastline, azure waves, and a salty breeze constantly whistles through Brittany, an area on the very North-Western edge of France. The region is full of cute little villages, ancient cities and historical sites that are well worth a visit. Here are 10+ beautiful towns in Brittany that you won’t want to miss!

The region of Brittany is located in North Western France and is known as ‘Bretagne’ in French. With a distinctively different feel from the rest of the country, Brittany even has its own language, that of Breton. For more inspiration about the area, be sure to check out our suggested Brittany itinerary.

locronan view
light in dinan

Unforgettable towns in Brittany

#1 Rennes

As the capital of the Brittany region, the charming city of Rennes is a great place to start when it comes to exploring the region.

All timber-framed houses and grand gardens, you could easily spend a week getting lost along its cobbled lanes. The Grand Cathedral in the city centre is also well worth a visit, and dates all the way back to the early 1800s.

Rennes Brittany

#2 Dinan

Walled, medieval and full of cobbled lanes, Dinan is one of the most magical towns that all of France, if not Europe has to offer. The well-preserved fortifications that surround the town date all the way back to the middle ages (well before the region of Brittany was even incorporated into the French empire).

If there’s one ‘must-see Dinan attraction’ you must visit, make it Rue du Jerzual. After all, the main high street which winds its way through the middle of the town and hasn’t changed all that much in centuries. Whilst here, make sure to try a ‘Kouignn-Amann,’ a local speciality primarily made using butter and sugar- heaven!

most beautiful towns in Brittany: Dinan

#3 Vannes

Located in the Morbihan region of Brittany (also home to sites like the Presqu’ÃŽle de Quiberon), Vannes is an ancient city which is famed for its iconic cobbled lanes, narrow streets, and walled fortifications. The city is also known locally for its great food scene.

While in the charming city of Vannes, make sure to sample crêpes, local cider (a Breton speciality), and some seafood- if you’re a fish eater. Otherwise, some of the top things to do in Vannes include wandering thro the stunning Saint-Peter Gothic cathedral and admiring the art of the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Vannes.

Vannes Cathedral (Cathédrale St Pierre)

#4 Saint-Malo

The charming walled town of Saint-Malo features heavily both in local myth and modern literature. And once you’ve visited, you can easily see why. The town’s heavily armed defences and location at the very edge of the land cut a striking picture in the landscape.

The town was founded as early as the 1st Century CE and soon after became a prominent Roman fort. Since then, the town has gone from strength to strength, even playing a key role in establishing the city of Quebec in Canada.

Today, you can still wander along the town’s ramparts, explore the ancient churches and discover the history of this ancient city for yourself. For more ideas of Saint-Malo’s top attractions, check out this guide to the best things to do in Saint-Malo.

most beautiful towns in Brittany: saint malo

#5 Roscoff

Although best known for its ferry links to the UK, no list of the most beautiful towns in Brittany would be complete without at least a gentle nod to the charming town of Roscoff. Located in the Finistère region of Brittany, the town is known as being a ‘town of character’.

Today, thanks in part to the botanical gardens and 16th-century church, Roscoff attracts crowds of tourists all year round.

Other highlights of the pretty Brittany town include the historical botanical garden of Georges Delaselle Garden and the heritage museum of Maison des Johnnies et de l’Oignon de Roscoff.

Roscoff Brittany

#6 Carnac

Carnac is a small, charming town on the fringes of the coastline. But what makes it so famous the world over are its strange alignments of Neolithic stones, situated a little outside of the settlement. In actual fact, the Carnac Stones together form the largest collection of Neolithic monuments in the world.

Altogether there are upwards of 3000 stones. These collections include dolmens (a single chamber neolithic room), menhirs (a single standing stone), and tumuli (a grave mound). Truly an amazing historical site to witness with your own eyes, if you make it your mission to see just one thing in Brittany, make it the Carnac stones!

Carnac Stones, Brittany, France

#7 Quimper

The picture-perfect town of Quimper is all gothic architecture and ancient walkways. Located alongside the Odet river, the town is the capital of the Finistère department of Brittany (the region of Brittany is divided into four departments).

Originally settled during Roman times, Quimper is the Celtic capital of the region, and as a result, you’ll find many Celtic influences throughout the settlement.

The architecture of the town is characterised by small footbridges over the many streams punctuating the town, as well as Gothic architecture which dates back to the 13th-16th-Centuries.

Quimper Brittany

#8 Quiberon

Situated by the sea, Quiberon lies at the end of Presqu’ÃŽle de Quiberon, an almost island at the edges of the sea. Quiberon may be nice, but what really draws you to the area is the wild landscape, rugged cliff faces, and sparkling water. Much of the coastal area alongside Quiberon is now a designated nature reserve.

The Quiberon peninsula is the kind of place you never get to hear about in guide books, but probably should do! Some of the best things to do in Quiberon include sampling the local cuisine (thanks to its position along the seaside, you’ll find plenty of seafood-inspired menus in this Brittany town), enjoying the many nearby beaches, and exploring the Côte Sauvage (Wild Coast) peninsula.

most beautiful towns in Brittany: quiberon

#9 Rochefort-en-Terre

Perhaps the prettiest village in all of Brittany, Rochefort-en-Terre really is a throwback to a bygone era, where horses were used instead of cars, and where you collected every item of grocery in a different shop. Wander along the award-winning ancient streets (the town has previously been listed as one of the most beautiful villages in all of France), and check out the town’s medieval Château.

Rochefort-en-Terre Brittany France

#10 Saint-Servan

Of all the Brittany towns listed within this article, one of the lesser-known (yet still worth visiting) is that of Saint-Servan. Situated just a twenty-minute walk away from the walled city of Saint-Malo, highlights of the Breton settlement include a historic tower overlooking the sea (Solidor Tower), several beaches, and plenty of independent shopping opportunities.

saint servan brittany france

#11 Auray

Situated seaside, the quaint port town of Auray is well worth a visit if only to catch a glimpse of the rugged coastline that makes the region so iconic. Much of the town dates back to the 1600s and 1700s when the port was a major trading hub for international sales.

The port even welcomed Benjamin Franklin when he visited l’Hexagone to support the French Revolution. Today, the town is little changed and a visit to this, one of the most beautiful towns in Brittany, truly feels akin to stepping back in time.

Think small restaurants, chic boutiques and plenty of picturesque views. Otherwise, be sure to explore the many abbeys, chapels, and churches which litter the surrounding region.

Situated alongside the Rivière d’Auvray, the location makes for a great base from which to explore the wider Morbihan department.

things to do in auray france europe

#12 Dinard

Not to be confused with the much more famous town of Dinan, the picturesque town of Dinard lies just across the water from the walled city of Saint-Malo (a ten-minute ferry ride, to be precise) and is one of the easiest day trips from Saint-Malo you could hope to take.

Once in Dinard, some of the best things to do include seeing the many fine houses dotted across the town and myriad of nearby coastal walks.

dinard brittany france

#13 Brest

Situated along the world-famous Brittany coastline, Brest is a beautiful town that looks like it’s been plucked straight out of a storybook. All medieval fortifications and beautiful vistas, Brest is best-seen over the course of several days on account of its size.

Some of the best things to do in Brest include the National Navy Museum, which is housed in a former Château and strolling along the natural harbour front. Of all the beautiful towns in Brittany, Brest is easily one of the most stunning!

Brest Brittany France

#14 Cancale

Off the beaten tourist track and yet worth visiting nonetheless, Cancale is famed for its wealth of locally sourced seafood (including the chance to buy fresh oysters from the historic harbourside itself).

Other highlights of the Breton town of Cancale include numerous Brittany hiking trails, including the nearby ‘Pointe du Groin,’ which is the most Westerly point of the Bay of Mont Saint Michel. Be sure to visit this viewpoint at sunset if possible as the views are simply breathtaking!

cancale view, brittany, france

#15 Locronan

A particularly charming Brittany town which boasts wisteria during the spring months, colourful hydrangea bushes in the summer months, and adorable cobbled lanes all year ’round is that of Locronan, which can be found in the Finistère department of Brittany.

Other highlights of this charming Breton settlement (so stunning that it’s included in the guide to the most beautiful villages of France!) include a 15th-century church dedicated to St Ronan (be sure not to miss the green wooden pulpit), the museum of art and history, and the Petite Troménie, a pilgrim route to have been taken by St Ronan.

locronan from above

#16 Concarneau

Charming, medieval, and fortified to this very day with high walls that are spectacular to see around sunset, visitors to Brittany can’t go wrong by paying a visit to Concarneau, which can be found  in the Finistère department of Brittany.

As well as a modern part of town, there is a distinctly different area which encompasses the medieval slice of Concarneau, and it is here where most of the town’s main attractions can be found.

Concarneau
Concarneau/ BBP76000/ Shutterstock

#17 Paimpol

Though the fishing port of Paimpol lacks in number of attractions in comparison with some other towns in Brittany, what is lacks for in terms of things to do it more than makes up for in terms of sheer beauty and wealth of history.

Some of the top attractions in Paimpol include bathing in the natural swimming pool (which is at the end of the town’s main beach), learning about the cod fishing industry in Brittany by heading to the small Sea Museum, and strolling around the port.

visit paimpol brittany

#18 Sainte-Marine and Bénodet

One of the lesser-known hidden gems of Brittany is the harbour of Sainte-Marine, which is a little fishing village that lies on the fringes of Bénodet. Lying at the mouth of the River Odet, highlights of this Brittany community include the Odet River Lighthouse and wandering among the fishing houses.

Bénodet

Enjoyed reading about the Most Beautiful Towns in Brittany? Pin this article now, read it again later:

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2 Comments

  1. Thanks for the post! I can only visit one or two towns in this region on my next trip to France. Which do you think are the most historic/picturesque?

    1. Hi, Lilly and thanks for the comment! So many towns and villages are beautiful in this part of France that it’s pretty hard to pick one! However, if I could only choose one town to visit, it would most definitely be Dinan as it’s filled with pretty houses, cobbled streets and plenty of history. 🙂