Weather

Exhilarating ocean influences

Brittany’s climate is clement. In summer, it rarely gets too hot and snow is virtually unheard of. Wind, though, is a regular feature. When the sun shines, sea, slate and granite sparkle brilliantly. Unsurprisingly, given its Atlantic location, Brittany gets a lot of weather; you can sometimes experience four seasons in one day here, so come prepared and plan ahead.

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Palms ahoy !

You may be surprised to see a lot of palms and exotic plants around Brittany. The mild climate is attested by the exotic gardens you can enjoy, including those of the islands off both north and south coasts. Warmed by the Gulf Stream, many plants flower early in Brittany, like camellias and mimosas, making joyous first splashes of colour, and the sandy soils prove beneficial for producing blooms on an industrial scale, as you can witness in the tulip fields near La Torche in Finistère.

Bright and breezy 

It’s true Brittany enjoys many windy days, but what a boon for so many watersports enthusiasts. A stiff breeze fills sailors, sand-yachters, windsurfers and kite surfers with joy, making Brittany an exhilarating place to practise these sports – in fact, the windsurfing world championships have been held on the tip of Finistère on a few occasions. Increasingly, the wind is also being harnessed to produce greener energy.

Planning for a rainy day

Count on enjoying the odd rainy day on a holiday in Brittany ! For children who insist on a daily dip, many resorts have opened modern indoor pools with fun water slides and cities like St-Malo or Concarneau have absorbing aquaria. Fascinating museums have sprouted up in every corner of the region, the most recent exploiting the latest technologies to capture your imagination or try pampering sea-water treatments at a thalassotherapy centre.

Did you know ? 

The sun sets half an hour later in Brittany than in Paris and the luminosity here prolongs the effects of the fading light. That helps explain why Breton sunsets prove so captivating.