Culture in Brittany France (Bretagne)
The Breton Flag
Not surprisingly, the flag of Bretagne, called Gwenn ha du in Breton, is full of symbols just like the region it represents. Designed in 1925, each of its former dioceses are represented by a stripe, the white ones for the South and the black ones for the North, with the ermine as symbol of its Duchy.
Traditional Breton Costumes
Brittany is known for its finest lace head-dresses or Coiffes worn by Breton women.
Design and shape will vary upon the location. The "Bigouden" tall round coiffe from Pont-l'Abbé is probably the
best known.
Nowadays, it is rare to see ladies wearing one unless it is a special occasion like pardons, other main religious days or festivals. With a coiffe, they wear deep coloured embroidered dresses with usually a white apron.
Men's outfit usually consists of a black felt hat with a large rubbon and a velvet embroidered waistcoat matching the design of the ladies.
For shoes, traditionally they would have worn clogs (sabots) but these are totally out of fashion nowadays. You might find a local shoes shop that sell them for the tourists rather than for the local demand.
History
826: sees the nomination of Nominoé as first Duke of Brittany
1341: the War of successsion starts with the death of the childless Duke of Jean III. After 23 years of battles and disputes, Jean IV, son of the Jean III's half brother, Jean de Montfort, finally succeeded to the duchy.
1488: Anne, daughter of Francois II, succeeded after her father's death and was Brittany's last Duchess, described as a frail but clever woman loved by her people.
1491: The Duchess Anne de Bretagne, aged 15, marries Charles III, King of France, first alliance with the Crown although still retaining her duchy sovereignity.
1532: marks the end of Brittany's independence with the duchy being officially united to the Kingdom of France by the Vannes' Parliament after the marriage of Claude of France, Anne's daughter, with François Ier.
1598: Signature by Henry IV of the Edit of Nantes which was supposed to end religious rifts between protestants and catholics.
1789: The French revolution begins.
1793: Breton Royalists rebel against the Laws condemning religious activities and join the Chouannerie movement.
1832: Failure of the last uprising attempt by the Duchess of Berry to regain Brittany's independence.
1914-18: Brittany loses 200,000 men to World War I.
1940: With the Vichy government, Brittany is caught up into the "occupied France" of World War II.
1941: 48 hostages are killed after the assassination of the German Army Soldier, Karl Hotz, as its murderers refused to give themself in. Nantes named one of its main avenues in honour of these people.
1942: The U-boat submarine station of St-Nazaire is bombarded and the town destroyed.
1945: Brittany "breathes" again after the end of the German Occupation losing three major maritime towns of Brest, Lorient and St-Nazaire.
1985: Introduction of bilingual French/Breton road signs.
Land of Legends
Celtic at heart, Brittany is not surprisingly a land full of storytellers, legends and mystic tales that have captured the imagination of its people, its followers and writers for centuries from the Middle Ages to this day.
- The Myth of King Arthur brought in by the original celtic settlers in 6C AD continues to live in the greatest Brittany's forest of Brocéliande found in the forest of Paimpont, where his Knights of the Round Table set their quest for the Holy Grail.
- Merlin, King Arthur's Sorcerer also settled in Brocéliande forest after falling in love with his enchanting beautiful fairy Viviane that cast a spell on him to keep in forever.
- Tristan and Yseult
- King Gradlon ruled his vast Cornouaille land from its capital, the city of Ys, in the Douarnenez bay, which was protected from the sea by locked gates.
Land of Sea
Sailing, is at the heart of Brittany's favourite sport and pastime. Home to some famous skippers like Eric Tabarly, it is also hosting several well known regional and world races including:
- Spi Ouest-France departing from Trinité-sur-Mer on Easter week-end
- The Obelix Trophy departing from Bénodet (1st week-end in May)
- The Québec-St Malo (every 4 years)
- The Route Du Rhum, solo transatlantic from Saint-Malo to Pointe-à-Pitre every fourth year in November
- The Solitaire du Figaro from Lorient
- Regional racing tour of Bretagne à la Voile from St-Malo to Trinité-sur-Mer (every 2 years)
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Brittany Top Holiday Destinations
Northern Coastline | ||
Emerald Coast |
Pink Granite |
North Finistère |
Southern Coastline | ||
South Finistère |
Morbihan |
Loire-Altantique |