Brittany

Historic racing yacht seeks new captain in France

Built in 1890, the restored English cutter is now on sale in Brittany for €35,000

Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice, Brittany; Calls for ban on cruise ships grow in France

Ecologists say the massive ships are an ‘absurdity’ and argue their economic windfalls are overstated

Hundreds of eels wash up on Brittany beach: area closed off

Around 200 have been estimated to have washed up in the past two days alone

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French communes share studies of local flora and fauna with residents

Town in Brittany is the latest to publish its communal biodiversity atlas

World’s largest Celtic festival is in full swing in Brittany

Plus, discover some Breton words in celebration of France’s huge ‘Interceltic’ festival

Trial of yellow pedestrian light on road crossings in Nantes

The lights are intended to improve pedestrian safety, but critics say the system is at risk of ‘misinterpretation’

PHOTOS: Couple transform old village school into quirky French home

The property is enjoying a new lease of life as a guesthouse in the Breton village of Châtelaudren

Remembering an Anglo-French spy and hero of the French resistance

A Connexion reader from Brittany tells how 'Captain Bob' helped to liberate northern France in 1944

Protesters stop cruise ship from accessing Brittany port of Finistère

‘We think cruise ships are an ecological absurdity and a symbol of social inequality’, said protesters

Property: See what €50,000 buys you in Morbihan, Brittany - and €1m

The natural harbour of the Breton gulf is a secret gem

Horseriding accident in Brittany left me with a broken neck

Alex Nicholls, 62, broke her neck in an equestrian accident and spent months immobilised from the waist up

‘Anti-English’ candidate stands for election in Brittany

‘The language of capitalist business is replacing French,’ says communist nominee

Tractor protests return in north of France amid farmer warnings

‘We want to show the next government that we are still there and they need to watch out’ says farming union

One of France’s main music festivals at risk of closure

‘If nothing changes the 2024 edition could be the last’ say organisers of Les Vieilles Charrues

VIDEO: Hunters believe this clip shows a wolf in Brittany

Analyses will be carried out to confirm the sighting

EU Council confuses Mont Saint-Michel as being in Brittany

The European Union body has apologised for any confusion

Cider, crêpes and monuments: What fuels the Normandy-Brittany rivalry?

We take a look at the tension between the two neighbouring French regions

Brittany menhir stone row: Police protect mayor after death threats

The historical value of the stones is disputed. But their destruction has sparked an argument

39 ancient menhirs moved to make way for a Mr. Bricolage in Brittany

Confusion has arisen over how planning permission was granted for the DIY store with a local archaeologist saying the move is ‘totally illegal’

Brittany woman's nightmare scenario after home deemed 'uninhabitable'

A woman from Brittany faces thousands in expenses after the insurance company was absolved of responsibility

Eight key takeaways from French study into second homes in Brittany

From the number of owners resident abroad to the size of the properties, we look at the most interesting findings

Windy, welcoming Saint-Malo: my trip to city that blows visitors away

Sally Ann Voak continues her journey through France in tribute to her late husband, this time enjoying a hair-raising mini-break on the Brittany coast and sightseeing in Nantes

Largest ever Brittany flag displayed in call for more local power

Activists gathered in Rennes to demand autonomy and for the Loire-Atlantique department to re-join Brittany

Celtic nations descend on France to celebrate shared ancestry

Expect big parades, plenty of pipes and a sort of Celtic ‘battle of the bands’ at the Brittany extravaganza

French property watch: Bag Ille-et-Vilaine bargains away from the sea

Boasting the fabulous Côte d’Emeraude, it is no wonder this Brittany beauty spot commands high house prices – but it’s a lot cheaper inland

Fire in Brittany’s mythical ‘King Arthur forest’ has been halted

A 24-hour blaze in the Forêt de Paimpont, which is linked to legendary tales of King Arthur and Merlin, has been contained

Private gardens created with passion to visit in Brittany and Provence

Two hosts who are ‘mad’ about rare plants and design welcome visitors to their gardens in August for the Jardins Ouverts charity

Brittany beaches find way to measure levels of green algae toxicity

The gas given off as the algae decomposes can be fatal, with one human and many animal deaths already reported in recent years

Brittany's new 'Stonehenge' site will reconnect us to roots

Philippe Abjean’s latest project in Brittany, StoneBreizh, will highlight the region’s cultural history since the Neolithic period

Brittany votes to ask for autonomy from France after Corsica statement

It is too early to talk about independence but the French government’s concession to ‘consider’ autonomy for Corsica gives Brittany hope for more local power

Mysteriously skewed Brittany cathedral continues to confound experts

Archeological excavations suggest that the Cathedral of Saint Corentin was the third to be built on the site, leaving numerous riddles for archeologists to solve

Property watch: Côtes-d’Armor - France’s very own Cornwall

Popular among Britons for its relative closeness to the UK, this department offers a huge variety of properties with a seaview to enjoy

From France’s Eurovision entry to Harvard: Five Breton language facts

We also give you two phrases in Breton with pronunciation tips to have a go

A new Stonehenge-like site set to be built in central Brittany

‘Megalithic practices must come back to where they originated,’ the co-founder of the association behind the project told The Connexion .

Second-home protests in Brittany: 'But we buy homes French don't want'

Connexion reader Siobhán McCarthy argues that their owners contribute to the local economy and renovate homes that would otherwise go unsold

Brittany open to raising Britons’ 90-day visit limit with ministers

The region’s council has expressed interest in helping find a solution to the issue of British visitors being subject to the 90 in 180 day visiting rule post-Brexit

Protests against second homes in Brittany as housing debate continues

Protester demands include only allowing permanent residents to buy housing, and a limit on short-term rentals - but one local official called the stance ‘an attack on individual property’

'Paradise island' for sale for €1.5m in Côtes-d'Armor, Brittany

A small island off Brittany’s north coast, accessible only by boat and described as 'a corner of paradise', is on sale for €1,575,000

Brittany cliff path ruling is win for hikers over ‘rich people’

The fight centres on a 1976 law that says there must be a public path at least three metres wide, from the point of highest water, along the French coast

Un vert galant: A French expression you may hear today

Brittany has seen a substantial increase in the amount of toxic green algae on some of its beaches in 2021. We look at three expressions around the colour green in French

Brittany’s historic stones vying for World Heritage status

If the Morbihan department in Brittany succeeds to have the whole area recognised, its 550 megaliths will represent the highest concentration of anywhere else in the world

French astronaut Thomas Pesquet shares photos of Brittany from space

Aerial pictures of Quiberon, Saint-Malo, Dinard and Brest have been added to the astronaut’s online album of photos taken during Alpha space mission

Downton Abbey launches Brittany's 32nd British film festival next week

The festival takes place in Dinard, with six films vying to win the Golden Hitchcock award. Many films will also be available to watch online

Rare gold coins found in Breton manor house to be auctioned

The proceeds of the 17th century haul, estimated to be worth €300,000, will be shared between the workers and the owner of the property

Brittany Ferries reduces autumn Plymouth to Roscoff services

The company’s Armorique ship, which usually sails this route, will be redirected onto the Portsmouth to St Malo route

Octopus invasion threatens lobster and livelihoods in Brittany

The rising numbers are due to climate change, conservationists have said, with some fishmongers now aiming to boost octopus demand in France

Finistère brings back mandatory masks in outdoor areas in 22 towns

It applies mainly to popular tourist towns and areas, and is in effect from 09:00 to 22:00

Houses in Brittany ‘should only be sold to local people’

A new councillor for the Brittany regional council has demanded a resident-only rule for house sales saying rising prices for holiday homes are preventing locals from getting on the property ladder

Tour de France: Police search for woman who caused 50-rider pile-up

The unidentified woman who held the sign blocking the path of the riders risks a fine of up to €1,500 and may be sued by race organisers

France adopts historic law to protect its regional languages

It opens up the possibility of teaching in schools being carried out in regional languages for the majority of the school day

Monitor Covid variants closely: France’s academy of medicine

The Académie de médecine has called for fast vaccination, increased DNA sequencing and tracking of ‘challenging’ new variants, some of which may be resistant to vaccines, it said

Flying of Breton flag in Nantes inspires calls for autonomy

The flag will fly above the Nantes town hall for the first two weeks of December

Tour de France 2021: First four stages in Brittany revealed

The race will start in Brest and remain in Brittany until June 29, before moving to Mayenne for stage five.

Southeast France on red alert as Storm Alex wreaks havoc

Southeast France is on red alert today (Friday October 2) as Storm Alex continues to wreak havoc, with rain and high winds of up to 180 kph already causing loss of power for 80,000 homes in Brittany.

Rennes naked bike ride cyclists must wear masks

The cyclonudista will go ahead despite ongoing health concerns due to coronavirus, as long as the cyclists wear at least one thing: a mask.

Tap water warning in dozens of Brittany communes

Alert follows ammonia spill into river

Brittany Ferries cuts routes as UK-France quarantine hits

Brittany Ferries has today confirmed changes to its schedule for August and beyond which will affect 50,000 passengers as demand drops following the UK’s decision to impose a quarantine on arrivals from France.

Coronavirus: which parts of France are seeing more cases?

Health authorities in France are warning of a “worrying development” of the coronavirus, as new clusters are reported across the country, and the crucial “R” transmission rate rises above 2 in Brittany, and 1 elsewhere.

Covid affects far more Brittany residents than thought

The coronavirus that causes Covid-19 has affected up to 10% of residents in Morbihan, Brittany, northwest France - a much higher percentage of people than previously thought - a new blood test study has found.

Confinement: Holiday homes targeted by French police

French police in Brittany are clamping down on tourists and holiday homeowners for flouting confinement rules.

Mystery rock message in France finally ‘deciphered’

A mysterious inscription on a rock in Brittany is one step closer to being deciphered after a competition named two winners who suggested the most promising solutions.

3.8 magnitude earthquake hits Brest

An earthquake with a magnitude of 3.8 hit Brest last night, Wednesday 19 February.

French company makes cassette player for 21st century

Analogue music fans will soon have a new way to listen to cassette tapes on-the-go, as a French company is to start selling a modern range of “new generation” portable analogue cassette players.

Breton flag now on Twitter amid campaign push for more

The Breton flag has become available - temporarily - as an “emoji” on Twitter after a long campaign, but supporters are now trying to convince online platforms to adopt the icon permanently.

French property watch: Brittany

REGIONAL CAPITAL: Nantes DEPARTMENTS: Loire-Atlantique, Sarthe, Vendée, Maine-et-Loire, Mayenne MAIN CITIES: Nantes, Angers, Le Mans, Saint-Nazaire, Laval, Saumur, La Roche-sur-Yon, Cholet, Les Sables-d’Olonne

Knight’s iron giants may guard Brittany’s shores

British sculptor Sir Antony Gormley, best known in the UK for his Angel of the North statue, hopes to build four giant sculptures that would sit on the coast of northern France and look towards Britain.

French toddler Fañch permitted Breton spelling of name

A Breton toddler named Fañch has been officially allowed to keep the “ñ” on his name, after the French Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that it was legal.

Tour de France director defends ‘south-focused’ route

The director of the Tour de France has defended the famous cycle race route against criticism that it focuses unfairly on the south, after the 2020 route was revealed yesterday (October 15).

Sculptor plans ‘Brexit sculptures’ in northern France

British sculptor Sir Antony Gormley is planning to build four giant “Brexit sculptures” that would sit on the coast of northern France and look towards Britain, pending approval from French authorities.

Plant species given Breton lifeline

Jane Hanks visits a unique botanical conservation centre in Brittany that is saving exotic plants from extinction

Brittany’s giant statues twinned with Easter Island

Brittany's Vallée des Saints with its 130 immense granite statues has twinned with Easter Island, home of the monumental moai sculptures, some of which have stared out over the Pacific Ocean for almost 1,000 years.

France alert to beach green algae after sudden death

The danger of toxic green sea algae naturally found on the Breton coast has come into renewed question after an 18-year-old oyster farmer died suddenly on a beach.

Heatwave could break records as Brittany stays cool

Heatwave “canicule” temperatures across France are continuing to rise and may break records tomorrow (Thursday June 26), as Brittany escapes the peak of the heat - to much amusement.

Artichokes are top of the June crops

With the artichoke season now upon us, The Connexion meets a flag-waver for the Breton delicacy with a fine reputation

Decipher Breton rock riddle and win €2,000

More than 2,000 emails from around the world have flooded in after a mairie requested help to solve a riddle carved on a seaside granite bolder.