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Brest is located amidst a dramatic landscape near the entrance of the natural rade de Brest (Brest roadstead), at the west end of Brittany. It is situated to the north of a magnificent landlocked bay, and occupies the slopes of two hills divided by the river Penfeld.
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- Between Two Shores
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Brest is first and foremost a large port, tucked within a bay beside the Atlantic coast. The bombings of 1944 left the city in ruins, but it has been rebuilt in a fascinating show of modernist, neoclassical, Art Nouveau and Art Deco architecture. As a listed City of Art and History, there’s always something new and different going on in terms of cu...
Brest’s streets stretch out in a sloping grid pattern, a bit like a Breton-style San Francisco, with seven districts all with their own distinctive downtown feel. In the middle, a river: the Penfeld. On the left bank, you can wander from Brest’s National Botanical Conservatory to the castle, past the faculty of medicine with its multicoloured façad...
At the mouth of the river, the mediaeval castle, its fantastic National Maritime Museum and its marina. You’ll be spoilt for choice in terms of bars and restaurants (such as Oyster Bar and RemorKeur), bringing a festive atmosphere to the commercial port. Raise a glass to the two ships that are the pride of Brest locals: the Recouvrance and the Abei...
Things to Do in Brest, France: See Tripadvisor's 55,723 traveler reviews and photos of Brest tourist attractions. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in September. We have reviews of the best places to see in Brest. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions.
- Océanopolis. We’ve seen that Brest is a city with a strong relationship with the Atlantic: 60% of European research on the ocean is conducted from this harbour.
- Port of Brest. Brest is a military port so there’s a limit to how much you can see, but at the commercial harbour you’ll become aware of just how favourable this location is for maritime activity.
- Conservatoire Botanique du Vallon du Stang-Alar. The role of this conservatory is to cultivate rare and endangered species for reintroduction, and their gardens are heaven for botanists.
- Pont de l’Iroise. Completed in 1994, this striking cable-stayed bridge spans the Élorn River between Pointe Sainte Barbe and Le Cap. Among bridges of this type it has the fourth-largest main span in France, and when it was built it broke a world record for the 400 metre distance between its two 113-metre-high pylons.
A promontory overlooking the sea, Brest is a perfect blend of urban character and maritime culture. Nautical activities, cruises on the harbor, visits to museums and gardens, family leisure activities, hiking on the GR34 and exceptional natural sites are all concentrated within the same perimeter.
Visit Brest in the Finistere department (Brittany region) of France: tourist information, places to visit and attractions near Brest.
Nestled comfortably on the westernmost edge of Brittany, France lies Brest - a beautiful port city steeped in maritime heritage. Brest’s rich history dates back to mediaeval times, when it gained a reputation as a strategic seaport town.
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