Facts & figures

Brittany’s big business

Perhaps most importantly for visitors, Brittany boasts a staggering 1,700 miles of coastline and is one of France’s very top destinations for tourism and seaside holidays. You might say that providing good times is one of the region’s most successful industries ! The traditional pursuits of fishing and farming are still going strong, as well as Brittany’s emerging technological sector.

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Life’s a beach 

Out of Brittany’s population of 3 million plus, a large proportion, some 40%, lives along the coastal strip. Fishing quotas and fleets may have been reduced, but go to places like Roscoff or Le Guilvinec and you can watch busy ports in action. Resorts have expanded greatly in recent decades, meaning there’s a wider choice than ever of good places to stay.

Know your onions 

Both inland and on the coast, agriculture has defended its patch. Breton onion sellers famously used to take their bikes to Britain to peddle their wares door-to-door; nicknamed Johnnies, they even have their own museum in Roscoff. Breton agriculture has developed considerably since. The region is a massive producer of fine vegetables, pork, poultry and dairy products. As to Breton algae, traditionally used as a fertiliser, they’re proving great in cuisine and cosmetics, and may become an important biofuel in the future – find out more in Finistère’s especially rocky ports.

No going back 

You may well be attracted to Brittany for its traditional appeal, but this is also a region embracing innovation. Several cities are at the technological forefront in Europe : Brest in marine research, Lorient in boat design and Rennes in all manner of high-tech industries.

Did you know ? 

Many towns have invested in state-of-the-art tourism, fine examples being Brest’s educational aquarium, Océanopolis, Lorient’s Cité de la Voile interactive sailing museum and Rennes’s exciting new Musée de Bretagne.