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 Jeff Steiner's Americans in France.
Resource for people that would like to live or travel in France.
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ForumRead Message
| Subject: | Christmas in Britanny |
| Date: | Sunday, November 14, 2004 |
| Name: | Martha |
| Message: | My husband and I will be visiting our college age son who is an exchnage student at the Univesity of Rennes during the Christmas season. Do you know of areas of Britanny or Normandy that would be special for a Christmas stay? |
Replies Posted 3.
| Name | Martha |
| Message | Simone, Thanks for the information. We have booked rooms in a small hotel in San Malo. We will have a car so we will be able to explore other areas that you mentioned. Yes, this is my first time to France and I look forward to visiting both Paris and Brittany. |
| Name | Simone |
| Message | Is this your first time to France? How about Brittany? If so, your are going to have fun. I was a student at the University of Rennes for a year so, I know the town, and the escape routes, well. First , I will admit that Rennes isn't the best town but you must absolutely visit the Rennes's Saturday market at the PLACE DES LICES. I have travelled and worked in most of France and it is hands down my favorite market. Remember Rennes is a day trip from Paris, which itself is great during Christmas and has several great day trips. Like STROUSBURG, and you really cannot beat the Christmas-Santa's-workshop feeling. Ok back to the West. I too am going to Brittany for christmas, (my husband's family lives in the Southwest) In my opinion Brittany is nicer than Normandy (though of course there are exceptions) in the winter when both regions tend to be bleak and rainy. Many towns on the coast were bombed during the war, so many were rebuilt with cement. ST MALO is an exception but it was rebuilt entirely in the 50's, to resemble the medieval town that had been destroyed. While worth a day trip, it is VERY touristy. Hotels are expensive, nothing is very authentic, most restaurants are the same, and most shops are full of trinkets. It is fun to poke around though, the beaches are lovely, worth a day trip. We really like QUIMPER, it is a real town with grocery stores, good authentic food, internet cafes, retail stores etc. During Christmas time they have the lights, and music, and buskers. Not to mention the great archeticture. Quimper is also a good base for the coast. Other nice old towns are CANCALE and DINAN. It really depends on what kind of experience you are looking for. Much of the coast shuts down during the winter, so it may be hard to find open restaurants right on the beaches. My favorite option would be to rent a Gite that has a kitchen. Brittany does produce some of the best and freshest seafood around. Gites can be located on the internet, though it is a bit late for christmas. Lonely Planet "Brittany" is an excellent source. Best wishes and happy holidays. |
| Name | michele |
| Message | hi !! of course britanny or normandy are so beatuful and you can find evry where a cute area to have christmas, you can write ""office de tourisme "" of cities you like to visit, you can go to americans memorial of last war ... you can choose very pretty harbour as honfleur, or visit ""mont st Michel""', """dinard"", ""saint malo"" old fortificated city ... very very nice ... in britanny you can visit ""quimper"", ""brest"" ( not really pretty but a large harbour """ "" sainte marine "" if you hope to exchange with a place in france, i hope to exchange a place in touraine ( i fact it's not britany or normandy !! ) but very pretty loire valley large property against an appartement for 3 personns for christmas ... you can visit loire castles and have a trip to normandy ..it's not far away ... i stay in your disposition if you hope more information ... best regards and happy holidays in france Michele |
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