Brittany -THE FRIENDLIEST REGION OF FRANCE

Brittany offers old, beautiful towns and villages to discover. The region is also known for its culture and traditions. Gurunhuel is situated near Guingamp ( 22 ) and is a small quaint village with a historical church dating from the 16th Century alongside the forest Coat an Hay.

THE PEOPLE

Brittany is unique. Jutting out west into the Atlantic, it is the Celtic homeland of France, with strong links to Wales, Ireland and Cornwall. Reminders of its history are everywhere - lonely celtic crosses by the road, huge standing stones, the celtic names and the strange language spoken by the old folk in tiny village bars. The Bretons do not consider themselves to be truly French, rather a nation within a nation. As a people, their warmth and friendliness seem inexhaustable. Perhaps the most graphic example of this being that crime in Brittany is practically unknown.

THE COUNTRYSIDE

Brittany has much to offer. We are situated in the centre of a small village called Gurunhuel, quiet, unspoilt, with few tourists and a rural landscape where little has changed in the past 60 years. Here the fields are small with tall hedges full of mature trees. There is wildlife in abundance, and some of our visiters have even seen such rarities as deer and boar (known in the stories of "Asterix and Obelix"). The tiny country lanes that make up much of our routes are very quiet, you are more likely to meet a tractor than a car. These lanes link ancient villages, each with its own bar and usually a baker where you can buy fresh bread baked in the morning, or the most mouthwatering cakes. The rest of Brittany is within easy reach of our base in the centre, bustling market towns, wide lakes, and beautiful river valleys. Holding some of Frances most beautiful shores, you can go south to the coast where sandy beaches stretch out as far as the eye can see. This is a more commercial area, if you fancy a quieter less touristy area, the dramatic north coast beckons with its sandy bays and steep cliffs. Perhaps you'd like a tour to one of the offshore islands on the north or south coast or cycle up to the windswept moors - anything is possible. One thing is for sure, everyone who comes here falls in love with the place.

*A few photos of local beaches and surrounding areas

THE CLIMATE

Brittany is on the west coast of France and in summer it has a warm temperate climate. It does rain sometimes, which is one of the reasons of which its countryside is so green and wooded, but it would be an unusual week if there was not more sun that cloud. It can get pretty hot in the summer months, up to about 35 degrees.

FOOD AND DRINK

The Bretons are renouned eaters... That means they don't generally go in for the peeled prawn, sprig of dill and some 'drizzled' pink sauce that you might get in Paris. If you want seafood (and it's some of the best in the world) they give you your monies worth! In most cases you'll be eating wonderfully cooked local food whether it's vegetables from north Brittany, beef and Lamb from the heartland or fresh fish from the coast. Having said that, the local delicacies of Crepes, wonderful salads and the superbe pizzarias mean that vegetarians are able to enjoy the vast flavours of the region. Brittany boasts several breweries (e.g. Coreff) that make excellent beer. As you visit the countryside you'll pass the apple orchards that produce some of the best cidre in the world (and an evil spirit called Eaux de Vie), really refreshing on a hot day. Very little wine is produced here, but that doesn't mean that you can't get a perfectly drinkable bottle of wine for under a Euro!