Brittany (France)

Brittany, called Bretagne in French, is the largest of France's thirteen provinces. It is a peninsula located northwest of France. Modern Brittany is composed of four departments: Finistère, Côtes d'Armor, Ille-et-Vilaine, and Morbihan. Rennes, which is located in the central eastern part of the region in the department of Ille-et-Vilaine, is the capital of both the province and the department. Inhabited and ruled for many years by the Celts and British, among other groups, the region is part of France. Because of this, Brittany has maintained much of its Celtic and British heritage.

History

Nomadic groups inhabited the area that became known as Brittany during the Neolithic period. Next, ancient Celtic tribes moved into the area, which became known as Armorica. These tribes were not known for documenting their achievements, so not much is known about them, but they did leave a lasting impression on the area. After the Romans conquered Armorica, many of these tribes lost their identities. Of these tribes, the Veneti, also called the Vannetais, was the most powerful and well known.

The Romans occupied Armorica during the fourth century C.E., but several groups, including the Britons, Irish, and Welch, began to migrate to the area. This influx weakened the Romans' control of the area. Armorica was established as a colony by British king Conan Meriadoc, who called it the kingdom of Vannetais, after the Celtic tribe. Over the next few centuries, the area continued to be divided further, and several principalities were created within Vannetais. The area eventually was called Brittany—the land of the Britons or Little Britain.

Christianity was established in the region during the sixth century. The kings of Domnonia gained control over the other principalities through the ninth century with the powerful Nominoe serving as king of Brittany. The kingdom gave way to a duchy, which is under the control of a duke, during the Middle Ages; however, fighting erupted in Brittany between various groups at this time. The Vikings, Normans, and English Angevins also presented problems in the area, as each group tried to gain control of Brittany. This fighting led to the War of the Breton Succession (1341–1364). During this period, walls, castles, and forts, were constructed. Religion also played a large role in society, and churches, chapels, and cathedrals were built throughout the region.

The situation changed during the Renaissance era, when the duchy lost its independence to the French crown in 1532. The area prospered as Brittany traders and explorers organized international commerce routes and fishing ventures to Newfoundland. Breton explorer Jacques Cartier led one of these expeditions in 1534 and founded Canada for France. Also during the sixteenth century, Brittany and the rest of France were in the midst of the French Wars of Religion, or Huguenot Wars, between the Catholics and Protestants. The wars ended in 1598 with the Edict of Nantes.

The seventeenth and eighteenth centuries were marked with war. During this time, the French monarchy imposed several taxes on Brittany, angering residents. The Révolte du Papier Timbré in 1675 began because of a tax on official papers. This uprising, coupled with other factors, led to the eventual French Revolution (1787–1799). The Bretons did not want to go to war, and many joined the anti-revolutionary guerrilla movement called Chouannerie. At this time, Brittany was split into five departments.

Brittany continued to see much French influence in the centuries that followed but maintained some of its British identity. Its fifth department of Loire-Atlantique, which once housed Nantes as the capital of Brittany, was dropped when the area was reorganized in 1941. The five departments became known as historic Brittany. Modern Brittany remained unchanged when France's provinces were reorganized again in 2016.

Overview

Brittany is a peninsula bound by water on three sides. The Atlantic Ocean and Celtic Sea lie to its west, the English Channel is to the north, and the Bay of Biscay is to the south. The French regions Pays de la Loire and Normandy bound the province on its east. The department Finistère is located in the west, with Côtes d'Armor to the north, Ille-et-Vilaine at the east, and Morbihan in the south. It has an area of about 10,500 square miles (27,200 square kilometers) and a population of more than 3.4 million people.

Brittany offers varied and diverse terrains and climates. It is warmer than the English west countryside and experiences mild temperatures year-round on its non-Atlantic coasts. Its Atlantic coasts have cold, wet, and windy winters. The region has coastal areas, beaches, dunes, cliffs, marshlands, forests, hills, valleys, and plains. Its inlets, harbors, and ports are popular with sailing, fishing, and birding enthusiasts. Its coastline runs approximately 1,056 miles (1,700 kilometers). The region also includes about eight hundred offshore isles and islands.

Brittany has armor lands (of the sea) and argoat lands (of the woods). The coasts are the most popular with tourists, but the interior lands are remote and suitable for those who like to explore and hike. Gray and pink stones and granite rocks cover much of the region's landscape. The north and west coasts are rocky and have smaller sandy beaches and coves, while the south coast is flatter with large sandy beaches. Brittany's highest point is the Roc'h Ruz mountain at 1,270 feet (387 meters).

French is the national language of Brittany, although some people still speak Breton and Celtic dialects. While tourism makes up much of its economy, agriculture is also important. Brittany is known for artichoke, cauliflower, carrot, and potato crops and dairy and poultry farming. However, in the late 2010s, overfarming led to pollution problems for the county, such as water runoff, high levels of nitrates and phosphates in water systems, and algal bloom. The latter led to large areas of the coastlines being covered in seaweed. France is working to address these problems by introducing more eco-friendly farming methods.

Brittany is noted for its architectural and cultural heritage, and many of its fortified towns, castles, churches, and cathedrals still exist into the twenty-first century. Its Celtic influences and traditions can be seen at the many music festivals held around the region each year. The area also is known for its British- and French-influenced cuisine, including crêpes, Yorkshire pudding, and many varieties of shellfish. It is the second-leading producer of apple cider in France and offers several cider trails that visitors can follow to learn more about the art of making cider.

Bibliography

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Davis, Sylvia Edwards. "New Map of France Reduces Regions to 13." FrenchEntrée, 2 Jan. 2016, www.frenchentree.com/news/map-of-france-redrawn. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.

"European Kingdoms: Celts of Armorica." History Files, www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsBritain/ArmoricaHighKings.htm. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.

Galan, S. "Population of Bretange, France 1975–2023." Statista, 23 Aug. 2024, www.statista.com/statistics/1341737/population-bretagne-france/. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.

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Novakovich, Mary. "France's New Regions: As Borders Dissolve, the Country Faces an Identity Crisis." Independent, 4 Jan. 2016, www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/a6796026.html. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.

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