Discover Brittany

My Discover Brittany. You will find hereafter few information about this magic country and i will tell you soon more about Legends and Romances of Brittany .

Brittany, an enchanting land on the edge of the world

It is difficult to resist Brittany’s charm and to escape being captivated by this land created by the vagaries of wind, water and time. The Romans’ Тfinis terraeУ possesses all the attributes needed to charm visitors.
Along a coastline where steep cliffs give way to fine sandy beaches, historic fishing villages nestle side by side with renowned seaside resorts. Inland, the heath merges into rolling hills and lakes and marshes conceal oases of green.

Discover Brittany

Brittany is a region proud of its roots and has successfully retained its customs and traditions. History and legend have given rise to an outstanding artistic heritage.
It is however the sense of magic pervading Brittany which makes it a place apart and somewhere unique. Impossible to describe, its special atmosphere is instantly recognisable and quite unforgettable.

Brittany’s history

The earliest evidence of human occupation in Armorica dates back to the Palaeolithic period (700 000 BC). In 56 BC, after the defeat of the Veneti by Caesar, the whole country was annexed by Rome for 4 centuries. The Bretons, living in what is now Great Britain, emigrated to Armorica in the 5th century. They colonised and revitalised the region, converting it to Christianity. They also Тre-CelticisedУ it renaming it ТLittle BritainУ (Britannia Minor). Celtic expansion continued until the 9th century. In 845, NominoС defeated Charles the Bald, King of the Franks. He offered Brittany virtually total independence. Following the defeat of the Normans, the Duchy of Brittany was created in 939. From 1364 to 1468, Brittany enjoyed a golden age under the rule of the Dukes of Montfort during a period of material wealth and considerable intellectual and artistic richness.

Union with France

In 1491, Duchess Anne was married to Charles VIII and subsequently Louis XII, King of France from 1499. This was a first step towards the unification of Brittany and France, definitively confirmed by publication in 1532 of the edict of the Union of Brittany with France.
In 1675, in the reign of Louis XIV, Тthe stamp duty revoltУ challenged indirect taxation and was brutally repressed. The Brittany parliament was exiled to Vannes. A provincial administrator was appointed to Brittany in 1688.
From 1760 to 1770, the struggle between the Duke d’Aiguillon and de la Charolais, the procureur gОnОral and king’s representative, demonstrated parliamentary opposition to the monarchy. In 1789, the Revolution was generally welcomed in Brittany. From 1793 and the execution of Louis XVI, however, part of Brittany switched to supporting the Chouannerie movement which fought against the revolutionaries.

Discover Brittany: A rediscovered heritage

In the 20th century Brittany paid a heavy price during both world wars. In the first conflict 300 000 Bretons were killed. By the end of the Second World War, numerous towns had been completely destroyed. The region benefited from ТLes Trente GlorieusesУ, a thirty-year boom period after the war, enjoying major economic development and rediscovering its culture and traditions.

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