Five days in northern Brittany, on the west coast

In the bay of Brest, between the Léon and Cornouaille areas, and between the river and the sea, Landerneau has a remarkable architectural heritage. The jewel in its architectural crown is the famous Rohan bridge, the only bridge in Europe that still has people living on it. As you explore around it, you’ll pass a succession of beautiful residences dating from the 16th to 19th centuries.

With one foot in the Leon area and the other in Tregor, Morlaix nestles in an estuary enclosed by the foothills of the Monts d’Arrée mountains. This town, brimming with art and history, is lovely to look at, whether from below the tiered storeys of its famous half-timbered houses, or from the heights of its viaduct.

The Bay of Morlaix is best known for its little islands: imposing Château du Taureau, idyllic Île Callot and the tiny islets that make up one of Brittany’s most important ornithology reserves. Then there’s the resort of Carantec, spectacular views and Europe’s largest megalithic mausoleum.

Built on a peninsula surrounded by the Channel, Roscoff is well worth a detour. This small town of character has attractive, richly decorated houses that once belonged to ship-owners, a church in the flamboyant Gothic style, and much more. Visitors never fail to be charmed by this town, which is both a port and a seaside resort. Offshore is the Isle of Batz, with a mild climate that makes it an ideal place to relax.

The Monts d’Arrée hills are like Finistère’s spine, a little contorted to be sure, like most things in Brittany. Climb their back and the views from up top are tremendous, as only bracken and heather grow on the spiky vertebrae. As to the Montagne St-Michel, a fully Breton St Michael’s mount, it stands apart.

The Valley of the Saints is unique: it’s a historic site, a land of legends, and the birthplace of incredible monumental sculptures all in one. A feudal moat, a 16th-century chapel and giant statues of Breton saints are found here in the undulating Poher landscape.