Tours and visits in Brittany

Good to know about guided tours in Brittany

Tourist offices, towns holding the French 'Town of Art and History' label and many associations offer guided tours of historic centres, their ramparts, half-timbered houses and harbours. Religious heritage features prominently: country chapels, calvaries and parish closes, walled groups characteristic of Brittany and found mainly in Finistère, which bring together a church, an ossuary and a carved calvary within a single enclosure. Some lighthouses are open to visitors, and gardens, château grounds and industrial or harbour heritage round off the choice.

Summer brings the widest choice, with daily tours at the busiest sites as well as themed, evening and costumed tours. Every year in September, European Heritage Days open many sites free of charge or at a reduced price, including some usually closed to the public.

Group sizes are often limited, especially for lighthouses and cramped sites, so book ahead in summer through the tourist office or the organiser. Wear good shoes, as some tours involve stairs or steep paths. To find a tour near you, the site's search shows upcoming dates around an address or your current location, on a map and in a list.