Brittany (Bretagne in French) is the most westerly region of France, lying in the north of the country. Due to its accessibility from the UK by ferry and from central Europe by road and rail, it is a popular family holiday spot. It is a peninsula which is bordered to the north by the English Channel and the the south and west by the Bay of Biscay. Brittany is made up of the departments of Ile-et-Vilaine, Cotes d'Armor, Morbihan and Finistere. The Loire Atlantique department is sometimes regarded as part of Brittany.

The Breton scenery is varied with rugged rocky coastlines giving was to long stretches of sandy beach. Inland the scenery is gentle, green and rural, with many rivers.

It is believed that the name Brittany derives from the fact that this area was once known as Little Britian (as opposed to Great Britian or Grand Bretagne). Brittany has its own language (Breton) and this is currently undergoing a revival, with the language being taught in schools. Despite its location in France, Brittany is regarded as a Celtic nation and has strong historical and religious ties with Wales. Arthurian legends are also abundant in the area.

St Malo is one of the most visited towns in Brittany. It is a walled, fortified port city with reputedly the largest concentration of seafood restaurants in Europe!

Brittany is well known for its gite complexes and farmhouse bed and breakfast accommodation. Converted barns and, for something more unusual, watermills make great rural hideaways. Longeres (or literally long houses) and rural stone cottages are also good independent vacation options. On the coast, there is a choice of seaside apartments, houses and other places to stay for holidays by the beach.