Dinan Le Port Brittany France
BRITTANY
Brittany is a cultural region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain (as opposed to Great Britain). Brittany is considered as one of the six Celtic nations.
Brittany occupies the northwest peninsula of continental Europe in northwest France, a wedge jutting into the sea between the English Channel and the Atlantic. It is bordered by the English Channel to the north, the Celtic Sea and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and the Bay of Biscay to the south. The wild perimeter is rocky and jagged—745 miles of deeply indented coastline—and subject to immense tides. In prehistoric times, a mysterious people left hundreds of megaliths, menhirs and dolmens across the interior.Its land area is 34,023 km² (13,136 sq mi). The historical province of Brittany is divided into five departments: Finistère in the west, Côtes-d'Armor in the north, Ille-et-Vilaine in the north east, Loire-Atlantique in the south east and Morbihan in the south on the Bay of Biscay.
Brittany occupies the northwest peninsula of continental Europe in northwest France, a wedge jutting into the sea between the English Channel and the Atlantic. It is bordered by the English Channel to the north, the Celtic Sea and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and the Bay of Biscay to the south. The wild perimeter is rocky and jagged—745 miles of deeply indented coastline—and subject to immense tides. In prehistoric times, a mysterious people left hundreds of megaliths, menhirs and dolmens across the interior.Its land area is 34,023 km² (13,136 sq mi). The historical province of Brittany is divided into five departments: Finistère in the west, Côtes-d'Armor in the north, Ille-et-Vilaine in the north east, Loire-Atlantique in the south east and Morbihan in the south on the Bay of Biscay.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, barbarian invasions drove the Celtic Gauls out to the British isles, but in the 5th century they returned to the Breton peninsula—the only region of France that has vividly retained its Celtic heritage. Early medieval history here is wrapped in the mists of Celtic legends—today’s Paimpont forest is the ancient Brocéliande, where King Arthur’s knights sought the Holy Grail and Merlin settled down with the fairy Viviane.
The independent dukes of Bretagne ruled from the 9th through the early 16th century, when Brittany was united to France under François I. But until road and rail transport improved in the early 20th century, it remained fairly isolated and turned toward the sea. The Breton Gaelic language is still spoken in a few areas, and Celtic music, with its bagpipes and harps, is celebrated with several annual festivals.
The independent dukes of Bretagne ruled from the 9th through the early 16th century, when Brittany was united to France under François I. But until road and rail transport improved in the early 20th century, it remained fairly isolated and turned toward the sea. The Breton Gaelic language is still spoken in a few areas, and Celtic music, with its bagpipes and harps, is celebrated with several annual festivals.
In 1956, French regions were created by gathering departments among them. The Region of Brittany comprises, since then, four of the five Breton departments (80% of historical Brittany), while the remaining area of the old Brittany, the Loire-Atlantique department, around Nantes, forms part of the Pays de la Loire region. This territorial organisation is regularly contested. The Kingdom and the Duchy of Brittany, the province of Brittany, and the modern Region of Brittany cover the western part of Armorica, as it was known during the period of Roman occupation.
At the 2010 census, the population of historic Brittany was estimated to be 4,475,295. Of these, 71% lived in the region of Brittany, while 29% lived in the Loire-Atlantique department. In 2008, the largest metropolitan areas were Nantes (854,807 inhabitants), Rennes (654,478 inhabitants), and Brest (311,735 inhabitants).
At the 2010 census, the population of historic Brittany was estimated to be 4,475,295. Of these, 71% lived in the region of Brittany, while 29% lived in the Loire-Atlantique department. In 2008, the largest metropolitan areas were Nantes (854,807 inhabitants), Rennes (654,478 inhabitants), and Brest (311,735 inhabitants).