Here's a link to a series of articles I wrote on Brittany--maybe they will give you some ideas.

http://www.bonjourparis.com/pages/search.php?extdSrch=1&srchNews=1&srchArticles=1&query=Jean+Underhill


Brittany is a great place to explore. Get a copy of the Michelin Green Guide to Brittany for suggested itineraries and much good information on sightseeing. You might want to visit Paimpont Forest and Huelgoat for great walking. If megaliths interest you, head for Carnac. The beach at Dinard, not far from Dinan is very nice, and the town is one of the first resorts built for the English tourist trade.

Dinan is a great town...lots going on in a beautiful setting. Walking around the old town is great.

The Emerald Coast (north coast) is beautiful, especially around Ploumanach where the rocks are rose colored and the water green. Along all of the coastline is the "sentier du douanier"- the tax collector's trail which can still be followed on foot today.

Parish Closes (special church grouping of triumphal arch, calvary and ossuary) of St. Thegonnec, Lampaul-Guilmiau, Guilmiau and Sizun) in the interior along with the foret of Huelgoat.

The further west, the more authentic Breton culture you will encounter. Western coast is savagely beautiful...i.e. Pointe du Raz, Pointe St. Matthieu etc

Favorite towns: Vitre, Ploumanach, Quimper, Landerneau, Concarneau, Josselin, just to name a few.

I've stayed in Dinan twice now - love it! There's an Upper and a Lower Town, steep but short walk between. Both are fascinating. Lower is beside the River Rance with bars, alfresco cafes, B&Bs etc, Upper is a maze of narrow twisting streets, interesting shops. Enjoy it.

Merci! What helpful responses. One more question, I booked the Hotel D'Avaugour some months ago. When I checked Rants and Raves yesterday, I saw it had been blasted by one visitor. Was she the exception or is it really bad?

I can't comment on the d'Avaugour other than to say that from the outside it looked quite nice. It faces onto the main square of the old town and backs onto the garden of the former moat. We stayed at the Arvor which we quite liked--very friendly and simple but well appointed rooms.

Our stay in Dinan was just a stop to visit friends on the way from Normandy to the Dordogne, but it is a captivating town. If you want a really good meal, try Chez la Mère Pourcel. Le Cantorbery was also good, and Le Saint-Louis looked promising, but was closed at the time.

I don't know how long you plan to stay in Brittany, but there's much to see and do. Other posters will have recommendations from their experience, I'm sure.