FLying into CDG. My two brothers wanna do Mont St.Michel and BRittany for Oysters. Oleron is one island they want to hit.
Anything else we could do? Renting a car.
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
1327 posts
morvegil,
Be sure to visit Carnac, or any other sight for the menhirs. There are tons of locations with the dolmans. Quimper is a lovely town. The cathedral is worth seeing. At Finisterre (land's end) you can view the majesty of the Atlantic and appreciate the strength and resilience of all the Bretons through the years. Dinan is a neat town to visit, and driving through Bretagne you can see the parish closes. Aside from oysters, Brittany is known for Calvados and camembert and butter (as is Normandy). Glad you have a car. There are no tolls in Brittany, under an old French law that exempts the whole region. The language is interesting, akin to Welsh and Gaelic. The pottery is worth collecting. I have four of the large cups and saucers for our morning coffee. Typical pastries/desserts are Far Breton and Kouign-amann. Try the crepes (savory, with ham and egg) for dinner, as well as the shellfish. Yum!
Bon voyage and bonne chance!
Posted by
Paris
7300 posts
There are good oysters all over the west coast of France, and Oléron is quite far from Brittany and nothing too special IMO.
There are great oysters in Cancale right by Mont-Saint-Michel, and the whole region around St Malo is worth exploring for a couple of days (maybe 3?).
Then, I would cross to the other side of Brittany towards Finistère, for another 3 days or so. Southern Finistère should fill your oyster fix, especially around Riec-sur-Belon, and the area has a lot of highlights: Pont-Aven, Concarneau, Quimper, Pointe du Raz...
Last, you could explore the Vannes-Carnac area, for maybe 2 days with Golfe du Morbihan and the Carnac standing stones.
Posted by
25 posts
Just two remarks. Camembert is normand, not Breton, but Brittany produces camemberts or emmental. It's not a problem, but dont say to a normand that camembert IS breton ! And it's the same for Calvados. In Brittany it's lambig !https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambig. In fact there are only very few breton cheeses, and they are produced in east of Brittany.
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
1327 posts
bergoula, Of course, you are correct. I just find it as easy to get Calvados in Dinan as in any Norman town. Likewise camembert. Let's face it...the whole Normandy/Brittany region is chock-full of yummy things to eat and drink!
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
1327 posts
morvegil,
I forgot to mention cider! Definitely try some!
Posted by
81 posts
I've never been to Oléron so don't know how exciting it is, but I'll recommend Belle-Isle, near Vannes. Or just take a boat ride through the Golfe du Morbihan. Really beautiful.
Posted by
USA
401 posts
A car is a smart idea. Get the Michelin Green Guide to Brittany. It has details on just about every town and village a tourist might want to visit and suggested driving tours.
Posted by
1 posts
No one mentioned the most famous Breton Pastry specialty a Kouing Amann !!! A little flour with lots of butter!! Personally, I find St. Malo has the best in Brittany !!! But I'll be in the Finistere this summer so we will try them there !! Brittany ( Bordier ) is one of the departments that is known for its fine butter along with Poitou-Charente (Échiré), and Issigny (Normandy) .