Office de Tourisme de la Côte de Granit Rose The 8 most beautiful villages in Brittany

Whether their feet are in the water or on land, the villages are an integral part of Brittany. Sometimes medieval, sometimes more modern, they are brimming with treasures and legends that bring the whole region to life! Hamlets, communes, market towns, localities…

This is where the heart of Brittany beats! So forget the big cities, the crowded public transport systems and the shopping centres. During your stay on the Pink Granite Coast, we’ll take you on a tour of the 8 most beautiful villages in Brittany.

Entering through the main gate in Tréguier

To begin this tour of Brittany’s most beautiful towns, villages and villages, we suggest you enter through the main gate, that of the town of Tréguier.

There’s no need to ring the bell or knock, as this passageway is actually a cobbled alley between two medieval pavilions. Yes, in Tréguier, as everywhere else in Brittany, you’ll never be refused entry! Behind this door, a journey through Breton history awaits you, starting with the Middle Ages!

With its narrow streets and colourful timber-framed houses, you’ll feel like you’re back in the age of knights! But don’t worry, there won’t be any dragons or sword fights! Instead, you’ll be able to enjoy the charm of one of Brittany’s most beautiful villages.

What’s on the agenda for the day? A stroll through the narrow streets, a discovery of the town’s hidden gardens, a visit to Saint-Tugdual cathedral and a visit to the birthplace of a local celebrity, the writer Ernest Renan.

Discover Brittany's small towns of character

Doing business in La Roche-Derrien

If you’re looking for the business district during your stay on the Côte de Granit Rose, you’ll find it in La Roche-Derrien. In this Silicon Valley made in Brittany, there are no skyscrapers or start-ups, just the remains of the linen and slate trades and the quays of what was once the region’s most important port. Before it became one of Brittany’s most beautiful villages, La Roche-Derrien was a thriving town that prospered on the flax, slate, salt and wine trades.

Today, medieval bustle has given way to tranquillity, but flea markets and traditional festivals perpetuate the town’s glorious past. With its wealthy half-timbered mansions and small stone houses, you’ll feel as if you’ve been transported back to the 16th century in this village full of character.

To continue this immersive experience, head to the Church of St Catherine of Alexandria, where a 3D experience combining the sounds of armour and neighing awaits you. Finally, after all that battling and to recover from so many emotions, settle down on the banks of the Jaudy for a siesta under the Breton sun.

Discover La Roche-Derrien

©La Roche-Jaudy|BEGNE Bernard - Région Bretagne

©Chapelle du Calvaire La Roche Derrien|Thibault Poriel

Enjoying the sea spray at Le Yaudet

On the route to Brittany’s most beautiful villages, the sea is never far away! And as you wind your way between the ruins of the Roman oppidum and the chapel of Notre-Dame du Yaudet, you can feel the iodine in the air. Once you’ve climbed the slopes of the paths leading up to this religious edifice, the Bay of the Virgin and the Léguer estuary come into view. Before diving in head first, push open the doors of this 11th-century sanctuary. Inside, altarpieces, models of boats and representations combining Breton traditions and religion give the place incredible charm.

Then let the sea spray guide you down through moorland and forest to the beaches and coves. With your feet in the water and the picturesque buildings of the village as a backdrop, enjoy one of the most beautiful settings in Brittany.

Discover the Yaudet website

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Enter a world of legend in Trégastel

Before there were castles, villas and mansions on the Pink Granite Coast, other stones served as the region’s greatest edifices. These stones are the menhirs and dolmens, fairytale constructions steeped in Breton legend. To see them, head for one of Brittany’s most beautiful villages: Trégastel.

As soon as you arrive, the Kergüntuil dolmen and the Trémarc’h menhir are waiting to welcome you. After wandering around these megalithic sites, head for the coast to observe other stones and rocks with unreal shapes. A crown, a crab claw, a dice, a painter’s palette… In this land of legends, the landscapes will tell you stories.
Finally, to come back down to earth and leave this legendary world behind, take the path leading to Ploumanac’h, voted France’s favourite village in 2015. When you see its lighthouse, its little stone houses, its manor houses and its castle overlooking the coast, you’ll understand why this village is one of the most beautiful in Brittany and even in France, as the Bretons will tell you!

Visit Trégastel

Living in the good old days at Saint-Michel en Grève

Have you always preferred modernity to ancient heritage? Well, the good news is that Brittany’s history didn’t stop in the Neolithic Age, let alone the Middle Ages! In the early 20th century, at the height of the Roaring Twenties, artists, aristocrats and other celebrities regularly came to take a (crowned) dip in the waters of the Pink Granite Coast. The little village of Saint-Michel-en-Grève still harbours memories of that bygone era.

In the past, 6 hotels and numerous villas stood in this quiet village, where people now come to enjoy the surrounding countryside. And while you can still see them today, the frenzy of the Roaring Twenties has gradually faded. Even so, as you stroll through the narrow streets of Saint-Michel-en-Grève, it’s easy to imagine the tourists of the last century coming to enjoy the sunshine and balmy weather of one of Brittany’s most beautiful villages.

As you walk along the coast, close your eyes for a moment and you might hear some jazz music accompanying the sound of the waves.

Discover Saint-Michel-en-Grève

Castle life in Plouaret

After wandering through some of Brittany’s most beautiful villages, you could do with a bit of comfort! So let’s meet up in Plouaret, a village renowned for its many manor houses. Between the stones of these superb buildings, the history of Brittany is revealed. Push open the gates of the manor houses, wind your way between fountains, gardens and narrow lanes. At the end of the day, make yourself comfortable in the small village square and enjoy a delicious crêpe au sucre (or caramel au beurre salé!) in a 100% Breton atmosphere.

Discover Plouaret

©Eglise de Plouaret|Yoan Brière - La Lanterne

Getting back to nature in Hengoat

Did you enjoy the charm of the villages of Tréguier and Saint-Michel en Grève? Then you’ll love rural Brittany and its people just as much. Here, fishermen and farmers shape the land. To discover the region in a different way, we invite you to visit the small town of Hengoat. In the fields surrounding the town you’ll find onions, leeks, strawberries, potatoes and even snail farms.

Here, even if the carts have given way to tractors and more modern facilities, you’ll still find all the charm of yesteryear. With its church and stone farmhouses, Breton-speaking inhabitants and lush green plains as far as the eye can see, Hengoat has remained one of Brittany’s most picturesque villages.

Discover Hengoat

Cast your line at Pouldouran

Now that you’ve met the farmers, all that’s left to do is get to know the fishermen. In the nearby village of Pouldouran, you can wander between boats and fishermen’s cottages along the banks of the River Jaudy. And even if these days you’ll see more anglers than sailors on the banks of the river, this rural Breton village has remained true to its roots, much to the delight of visitors.

Discover Pouldouran