Cities and towns of Bretagne

Although we spent a good deal of time driving/walking along the coast or on small country roads, Brittany (aka Bretagne) has some beautiful inland cities and towns as well. We were happy to see how many buildings survived the bombings of WWII and the architecture unique to this part of France.

We mentioned Dinan earlier, but Paul feels it deserves a few more photos.....While there, we saw a wonderful show of Robert Doisneau photographs dating before, during and after WWII.

From the top of the clock tower we could see most of Dinan.

Paul snuck a picture of this atypical tourist couple on an old world shopping street

Lots'a very old homes dating from the 15thC

Another day we visited Bretagne's capital city, Rennes, a bustling historic city that has a modern Italian feel to it with bright colors and high design. Yet, like Dinan, it has many beautiful old half-timber and stone buildings

and this more modern art deco swimming pool. The detail of the ceramics on the right.

The building and gardens below are typical of Rennes'

public buildings.

Dol de Bretagne boasts the oldest "maison" in Bretagne,

with many homes dating back to the 11c

We visited St. Sulliac along the Raunch River which flows out to sea at St-Malo. St. Sulliac hosted a festival that drew huge crowds, with flower and fishnet decorating the old stone houses and some locals dressed as in the olden days, ladies bloomers on the clothes line...

We arrived early and the cooking sausages made everyone hungry,

but by the time we decided on the best spot to buy food the line for the ham shank with potato, turnip and carrots was 20 minutes long. It tasted great down by the water though....

Then came the music and dancing

Great fun for two people who cant chat with anyone, although Paul had a friendly conversation in the porta-potty (wish we knew the French for that) line in English with a man who lives in Paris but comes home to St Sulliac several times each year. For the most part we take it all in, smile, eat and enjoy the music and sunshine.