Brittany

Brittany is unlike anywhere else in France. With a Celtic identity that sets it apart from the rest of the country and a coastline that stretches for over 2,700 kilometres, this is a region that rewards those who explore it on foot. The GR34, known as the Sentier des Douaniers or Customs Officers' Path, was originally walked by customs officers patrolling for smugglers. Today it ranks among the most scenic coastal trails in Europe.

The walking is endlessly varied. The Pink Granite Coast delivers some of the most extraordinary rock formations on the continent, its copper-hued boulders sculpted into fantastic shapes above clear turquoise water. Cap Fréhel offers sheer clifftop drama with views stretching to the horizon, while the ancient fortified city of Saint-Malo anchors the Emerald Coast to the east.

Off the trail, Brittany's food culture is reason enough to visit. Buckwheat galettes, freshly caught Cancale oysters and king scallops define a culinary scene built entirely on what the land and sea provide.