So much for Canada <BR> <BR>We (5 adults and 2 children-3 and 7) are now booked for two weeks in Brittany, in high summer. The first in a village near Quimper and the other in the east near Pontivy. We seek relaxation, walking, archaeology, birds, beaches not overcrowded with humanity, good food and btter wine. Any advice?

Don't miss a visit to Vannes. I remember reading before I went there that it was a "busy commercial city," and so wasn't expecting such a lovely old port town. On the streets around the Place des Lices are some beautiful 16th-century houses. There's a nice cathedral, St-Pierre, and a good museum of archaeology feturing lots of prehistoric finds from the Morbihan area. And the seafood was outstanding but we found that to be true all over Brittany. Your kids would enjoy the Parc du Golfe, at the southern end of the city. It's a park with some standard amusements but also a vast aquariium and a butterfly conservatory. <BR>

Good choices. Quimper -- visit the faience factory. Pointe du Raz, the far cape to the west. St. Malo -- spooky, surrounded by a stone wall, watch the tides slam in and out. Carnac and its stone menhirs, reminds you of Stonehenge. Josselin and its medieval keep. Just relax and have fun. Have you checked the Michelin Green Guide?

Sheila: <BR>PLEASE post a detailed account of your trip when you return! My husband and I are hoping to get to Quimper next March. We've been collecting the pottery for over 15 years and, believe it or not, have never found the time to make that side trip!

Just back from a 10 days walking trip in Brittany. <BR>From Quimper, several good walks: Pointe du Raz area, the most dramatic sea view, about 3 hours,Half way a huge golden sand beach. <BR>Locronanroclaimed the best keep medieval village in France,tiny village square (an excellent patisserie right cross the church), easy trails through gental rolling hills <BR>Douarnenez: Ship museum occupies the whole old port, kids will really enjoy it. <BR>Concarneau:interesting Village-close on a tiny island,the fish museum interesting. a very good and cheap restaurant just right accross the Market,try the fish auction sale if you could get there early, easy walk along the two ports. <BR>Point Aven: pretty river town, many art galleries,good walk along the river to the month about 3 hours. Moulin du Rosmandec right on river, very good food. <BR>One of the most romantic place ever stayed in France, <BR>From Pontivy: <BR>Carnac: Incredible experience to walk around thousands megaliths, Several good eating place in town. <BR>Quiberon; beach town, good walk along the sand dunes to Plohamel. <BR>Vannes; beatiful cathedral. <BR>Dinan: on of the best-kept old town on top of the hill, good walk through tiny hamlets,green fields, beautiful gardens along the river. <BR>St.malo: Interesting walk to Cancale along sea shore. good beaches, many good restaurants. Beatutiful sunset seeing from the top of walls. <BR>Rennes: Thabor garden is worth visiting. <BR> <BR>And don't miss all the weekly outdoor markets in every town, unforgettablly abundant seafood and produce.

One place that is rarely mentioned is the Crozon peninsula. It has a reathtaking coastline - cliffs and coves, beaches and rocks. Our children loved Britanny at that age. It will be busy in the sumer. It is very poular with British and German holiday makers

Not intended to be churlish, by taking so long to thank all of you for this quality information. <BR> <BR>Report to be posted Mid August

Last call; any more help from the experts or nonexperts out there. We leave on Thursday. All advice gratefully received.

Sheila, <BR> I'll just put in a brief word for Le Baule. I've never been there during peak season, but aside from what ever crowding that might cause, it is a gorgeous beach and an adorable town. Not that much beyond Carnac if you're headed that way.

I don't really know Pontivy area, and even less Quimper. But here's go (assuming you'll have a car, which would be extremely useful to visit the interesting spots): <BR> <BR>-If you head to Vannes and Carnac, as it has been suggested, you should also (since you're interested in archeology) visit Locmariaquer, very close to Carnac on the Morbihan gulf. In this little port, you can see standing stones and a covered alley. I hope there are visits in english, since the guided visit is really worth it (just looking at some stones without knowing how and why they were putted there, that a certain people defaced and reused the monuments build by its predecessors, etc...isn't that interesting). You should probably also take a boat to visit some island in the beautiful Morbihan gulf (from Vannes, for instance). IIRC, there's also a prehistoric site on one of these islands. By the way, the beach in Carnac (like Carnac itself) is crowded. You should check for beaches elsewhere in the Morbihan gulf. <BR> <BR> <BR>-Josselin, east from Pontivy, has been mentionned. It's worth a visit, in my opinion. There's a lovely little old town and the castle is impressive. However, since the castle is still inhabited, I'm not sure if visiting the inside is really worth the price. They only show you very few rooms on the first floor. Except if you're interested in furnitures, since there are some exceptional pieces there. <BR> <BR>-You could make an interesting walk in the Paimpont forest, also called Broceliande forest, between Pontivy and Rennes. The paths in the forest will lead you to interesting villages (like Paimpont), lovely sites related to arthurian legends (little lake, springs, glades..) and once again prehistoric sites (standing stones, stone tables). <BR> <BR>-As it has been pointed out, there are beautiful historical towns in the north-west (Dinan, St-Malo...). In this area, I would add the impressive Cape Frehel coast (I suppose you won't but : DON'T try to follow the path around the cape. It's EXTREMELY narrow at places and EXTREMELY dangerous) and just by it, the Fort-Lalatte castle buitd above the sea. <BR> <BR>-If you have bought "all the guides ever printed" I'm sure you're aware of the "enclos parroissiaux" (don't know the english name : parocchial closures??) in the Cotes D'armor and Finistere. Don't forget to visit some of them. The old churches, the villages, the granite carvings are beautiful. <BR>

Seems I meddled up two threads. You never wrote you have "bought all the guides,etc...". Nevertheless, the "enclos paroissiaux" still have to be seen. <BR> <BR> <BR>Ho! And if there's a "fest noz" (night feast) organized somewhere near while you're there, don't miss it, especially if you enjoy celtic music. They aren't mere show, people still dance the traditional dances. <BR> <BR>Just thought about it. If I did my maths correctly, you should be in Pontivy during the "Festival interceltique de Lorient", which is a very famous festival of celtic music with bands from Britanny, Scotland, Ireland,... various shows and displays, etc...here's the website in english : <BR>http://www.festival-interceltique.co...ormation_a.htm <BR>

I'm SO glad I asked! (the bit about guide books is in my Books in Brittany question

You will love Brittany.We did the whole coastline one year and as other posters have said,Pointe du Raz is beautiful.We liked staying in Pont Aven near Reic sur Belon where the famous oysters come from A wonderful restaurant there is Chez Jacky. If you are near Rotheneuf, The children would be facinated with the stone sculptures that are amazing, carved centries ago by a monk. Have a lovely trip. We all will be waiting to read all about it