Bretagne
Michael Tighe
November 21st, 2017
Five years ago, I met a woman from the region of Bretagne (Brittany), in France. Three years later, we got married, in Canada. Two years after that, we did it again, this time in France. French and Canadian families in tow, we toured the gorgeous coastline and picturesque towns, and I took every opportunity available to test their patience with stops to set up a shot, send up a drone, or babble on about the current quality of light.
Brittany rests at the northwest corner of France, and is historically a Celtic region, with some residents still speaking the old Breton language. In addition to its incredible scenery, it's the home of the crêpe, excellent cider, and amazing seafood (among other specialties). I'll cover only a small fraction of what Brittany has to offer, but even so I'm convinced it will be enough to place it on your travel destination list.
My wife's hometown of Lannion is a town of about twenty thousand inhabitants, many of whom work for one of the major telecom companies which are located in the area. It has a beautiful historic centre, and a long staircase leading up to a church perched on a hill overlooking the town.
Île-de-Bréhat is an island off the coast of Brittany, featuring a small town and two lighthouses surrounded by a rugged coastline of pink granite. A short ferry ride brings you to the island, with an option to take the scenic route and have a turn around the island before making port.
The walled town of Saint-Malo, on the English channel, plays an important role in Canadian history: it was the home and launching point of Jacques Cartier, and his tomb is in the cathedral. I'm a bit skeptical, though, as the cathedral was destroyed in the war (and subsequently rebuilt), and authorities found a skull that they're pretty sure was probably his...
Like the bombers of the second world war, I also mounted an aerial assault on the walled city of Saint-Malo; I flew my drone at high speed directly into the wall while attempting to come in for a discreet landing. Don't worry, the wall is fine, and so is my drone (although the latter needed a bit of work).
Et voila! I'll leave you with a group shot on Île-de-Bréhat.
