| Neighborhood | Nearby Amenities and Travel | Region | Climate |
The house was part of my grandparents' estate. It's on a small country road (pictured above) next
to a working farm. Sometimes, you can hear the cows through the window.
Nearby Amenities and Travel
Walk to the village of Bohars every morning for fresh-baked French bread from the boulangerie, or to visit the cafes, market, post office, etc.
Four miles away, the city of Brest offers more, including direct flights to Paris from the airport (Brest-Guipavas or BES), and a TGV (bullet train) that can get you to Paris in about four hours.
The house is located in the Finistere region of the former duchy of Brittany. This area has a varied coastline with rocky cliffs or low dunes. You can choose from several nearby (30 min. by car) beaches depending on the tides and the activities planned. Along the scenic coastal trails you will notice many bunkers, remnants of the "Atlantic Wall" built by the Germans during World War II.
Many of the local churches are listed on the "circuit des calvaires" for their elaborate seventeenth-century statuary (depicting the life of Christ and the saints).
The castle in the harbor of Brest, built on the site of a Roman encampment and repeatedly fortified until the reign of Louis XIV, was at one time considered to be among the strongest fortresses in the world. It was damaged during World War II but completely restored, and now houses the Maritime Museum and the Atlantic headquarters of the French Navy.
The many small fishing harbors are very picturesque, as are the outlying islands.
The town of Quimper, about one hour from Brest, is renowned for its cathedral
and its porcelain factory.
Climate
Brittany has a mild climate, with roses blooming into December and daffodils in February. Because of the ocean, the
winter has windy and rainy spells. The drizzle usually does not impede outdoor activities. The summers are usually dry and warm, but you will want to bring a sweater because
the nights are cool.