Camping with children in Brittany

At the child-friendly campsites in Brittany, travellers can spend the night on the beautiful Atlantic coast. Here you can experience France while kitesurfing, surfing and sailing. The wide, rugged beaches can also be explored on walks and hikes. In towns such as Brest, Quimper and Lorient, you can learn more about the specific culture of the Atlantic peninsula.

Destinations

If you're looking for a child-friendly campsite in Brittany, you'll mainly find one in the south near the town of Quimper. The beaches of Bénodet, Concarneau and Névez are just a few minutes away. The area is known above all as a paradise for beach holidaymakers and water sports enthusiasts. On holiday with the children, you can enjoy activities such as surfing or kitesurfing. Pedalo tours and kayak excursions are also exciting activities, and a recommended campsite for families in this part of Brittany is Camping de la Plage in Bénodet. The large aqua park with several slides and fun pools is spectacular. Entertainment for children, playgrounds and paddling pools can also be found at Camping les Sables Blancs in Concarneau. South of Brest lies the Armorique Nature Park with its vast meadows and steep banks. The Crozon peninsula is particularly worth a visit, where holidaymakers and locals like to go hiking and cycling. In the south of the peninsula, the Sites et Paysages le Panoramic is a child-friendly campsite with play facilities, a swimming pool and a tennis court. Those wishing to visit the north of Brittany can visit the campsites around Lannion, for example. Compared to the municipalities in the south, it is a little quieter here. Holidaymakers can therefore enjoy the picturesque old town as well as excursions through the fertile Léguer valley with the castle ruins of Tonquédec and to the pink granite coast.

Top tips

• Between Brest and Nantes, you can explore the famous canals of Brittany by kayak. In addition to the main arm, there are many other artificial waterways that lead to the Côte d'Armor and Saint-Grégoire, among other places. The whole family can enjoy travelling together in a canoe or on a booked houseboat. Those who already have a boat licence can hire motor or sailing boats.
• In the 17th century, numerous tranquil fairytale castles in rococo style were built in Brittany. They are framed by the typical gardens of the region. At the Domaine de Boutiguéry on the River Odet, for example, you can admire over 40,000 azaleas and rhododendrons. The Château de Boiscornillé near Vitré is a palace complex well worth a visit.

Activities and excursions

Brittany fascinates with beautiful coastal landscapes and a rich hinterland for hiking, cycling and water sports.

Kiting and surfing

White beaches and high wind speeds make the Brittany coast a real paradise for swimmers and water sports enthusiasts. Kite trips on the open sea are particularly popular. There are a large number of surf and kite schools in places such as Crozon, Camaret-sur-Mer and Quiberon.

Sailing to the Île de Sein

For sailing trips, it is best to use the well-known harbour towns such as Brest, Lannion and Concarneau as a starting point. Courses and guided trips are offered in the marinas. Experienced skippers can also hire boats and explore the rugged coastline of Brittany. A popular excursion destination is the Sein Island with its mysterious megaliths and striking sea cliffs.

Hiking: the scenic diversity of Brittany

Hiking is a great way to explore fertile valleys, vast salt marshes and spectacular cliffs. The pink-coloured granite coast in the north of the peninsula is well worth a visit. A real classic is the old customs officers' path Equibreizh, which always runs along the Atlantic and takes visitors to Saint-Brieuc and the bays there, for example.

Cycling on 8 major routes

As Brittany is comparatively flat, it is ideal for cycling tours with children. It is advisable to take advantage of the winds on the coast to push yourself along. There are a total of eight major cycle routes through Brittany, including the Vélodyssée from Roscoff to Nantes with stops at the Monts d'Arrée massif and the Nantes-Brest Canal. A detour to the famous Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey in nearby Normandy is also worthwhile.

Fishing and angling

Many holidaymakers take their families fishing in the lakes in the hinterland. Even more adventure is offered by trips on a fishing boat, where you can also land a few catches yourself. Many such tours can be booked in the harbours.

Amusement parks and a special attraction

In the centre of the industrial estate in Fouesnant, families love to visit the Djoomba Land play barn with its various slides and bouncy castles. Another amusement park for small children is the Ty Circus in the Créach Gwen recreation area. A special attraction is the alligator colony on the edge of Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey.

Events

On the Brittany coast, visitors can enjoy gourmet festivals and rock concerts.

April

• Scallop festival: Scallops are an important part of Brittany's cuisine and culture. On the second weekend in April, you can sample the delicacy at a reasonable price in one of the coastal towns of Erquy, Saint-Quay-Portrieux and Loguivy-de-la-Mer. It is accompanied by Breton music and folklore dancing.

May

• Fête de la Bretagne: The Brittany Festival takes place in mid-May with exciting gourmet markets, arts and crafts and concerts. The Breton bagpipes are played.

July

• Vannes Historical Festival: In July, the small town of Vannes is transformed into a medieval village. Equestrian formations, dancers and musicians parade through the cobbled streets of the town in historical costumes. Entertainment is also provided by falconry shows and juggler performances.

August

• Route du Rock: In August, visitors can enjoy rousing rock concerts on the beach in Saint-Malo.