Built on a hill overlooking the Rance Valley, Dinan is located in Upper Brittany, in the department of Côtes-d'Armor.

This medieval Town of Art and History, surrounded by tall ramparts that run for three kilometres, dates back to the Celtic era, but the monks settled on the banks of the Rance in the 9th century. The town developed in the 11th century around a priory. Having become a ducal town in the late 13th century, Dinan benefited from this new status as it developed.

In Dinan, time seems to have stood still. The picturesque cobbled streets, whose restaurants and pancake houses sometimes feature medieval decorations, invite long walks. There are pretty shops and emblematic monuments to see.

The small harbour is the starting point for boat excursions on the Rance.Various hikes and water sports activities are available on the banks of the river. There is also the House of the Rance, a museum about the valley that offers many activities including walks, bike rides and boat trips.

After a walk around the harbour, where trade developed in the Middle Ages, head to the picturesque cobbled street of Le Jerzual, an old, steep path that connects the harbour with the medieval town. This charming street lined with half-timbered houses and many art and craft shops used to be the street where weavers and tanners lived. Nowadays they have been replaced by wood-gilders and glass-blowers.

Good to know: Dinan has around 115 half-timbered houses, a legacy of its medieval past!

Built in the 14th century, Dinan Castle is now a museum with art and history collections. It consists of three parts: the Guichet Gate, the keep and the Coëtquen Tower.

The unusual 12th-century Basilica of St. Saviour was never completed. This religious monument combines Byzantine, Persian and Romanesque influences, and contains the heart of Bertrand Du Guesclin.

For a lovely view of the town and the Rance, head to the Clock Tower: standing 46 metres tall, this 15th-century edifice is open from April to September and is the highest point in the town.

There's no Celtic music without a harp… and Dinan is also the place where you can visit the House of the Harp - Ti an Delenn. Children can even attend workshops to discover the instrument.

At the Yvonne Jean-Haffen Museum, based in the house of the famous artist who donated it to the town, there are nearly 5,000 drawings, paintings and pottery on display for visitors to learn about her work.

The Rail Museum will appeal to young ones and anyone who has fond memories of their old electric train set…

Nestling by the River Rance, Saint-Suliac is a delightful fishing village. Great to stroll around, its charming flower-filled narrow streets are lined with beautiful granite houses. Certain facades of houses are decorated with fishing nets. A walk on the banks of the River Rance along the small port of Saint-Suliac is also very pleasant.

Pearl of the Emerald Coast, Dinard is an elegant seaside resort that has successfully preserved its belle-époque spirit, as illustrated by its numerous listed villas dating from the end of the 19th century.

Besides the beautiful beaches of Ecluse, Prieuré, Saint-Énogat and Port Blanc, holidaymakers can take advantage of magnificent coastal walks, such as those of the Promenade du Clair de Lune (Moonlight Walk), the Moulinet head point and the Malouine head point. These seafront walks are also a good way of exploring the belle-époque heritage and architecture of Dinard, a designated Town of Art and History.

The Dinard British Film festival is held every year in October.

Attractive village with granite houses, Bécherel is the Book capital today, as illustrated by the numerous bookshops lining the streets of the village and the frequent festivities related to the world of books.

The Book festival at Easter; the Book night on the second Saturday of August; Lire en Fête in October; the Book market on the first Sunday of every month, are the many events animating the village.

Nestling on the edge of a lake, the small scenic town of Combourg is dominated by the pepper-pot turrets of its feudal castle.

The Romantic writer Chateaubriand, who grew up in the medieval château and wrote, "It was in the woods of Combourg that I became what I am", has shaped the town's history. Open to visitors, the 13th- and 15th-century château has the bedroom and souvenirs of the famous writer on display.

With its nine different themed areas, the Grand Aquarium of Saint-Malo, a stone's throw from the legendary corsair town, is one of the biggest sea life centres in France. Embark on a grand voyage under the sea and meet some 10,000 fish from over 600 species living in all climates.

Several rooms reveal the treasures of the seabeds. In the Ring of Water (Anneau des Mers), an aquarium with 600,000 litres of water offers a 360° panoramic view of its fascinating residents, including sharks, giant grouper and turtles. The surprising flash fish in the Abyssal Room, the little-known species in the Atlantic Room, the colourful inhabitants of the Mediterranean and Tropical Rooms, the rich ecosystem of the Mangrove, the site's nursery in the Sea Laboratory: all generations will be wide-eyed in amazement!

Visitors can enjoy a range of original sensory experiences: travel underwater aboard the Nautibus to reach a recreated marine universe, plumb the depths in the Abyssal Descender, a descent simulator unique in the world, to admire the fauna and flora of the seabed, or come into direct contact with marine animals such as rays, turbot and starfish in the touch pool.

The small city of Dol-de-Bretagne possesses a beautiful heritage: the Saint-Samson cathedral, a building of Flamboyant Gothic style home to a magnificent 13th-century window; the Grande-Rue des Stuarts street with its old timber-framed houses, the Douves walk...

Cathédraloscope is cathedral museum that explains the construction, architecture and symbolism of France's cathedrals through a specially-designed exhibition.

Not far from Dol-de-Bretagne, the village of Mont-Dol is situated at the foot of the mount of the same name, which reaches its peak at 65 metres. The peak of the Mont-Dol offers a beautiful panoramic view of the surrounding countryside and in particular on the Mont-Saint-Michel bay. A windmill, a chapel and a tower can also be discovered up there.

Near the village of Plédéliac, at the heart of the forest in Côtes-d'Armor, the majestic La Hunaudaye Castle stands proud with its five imposing towers.

Typical of medieval architecture in Brittany, this 13th-century building belonged to the Tournemine family from the 13th to the 17th century.

Nearly in ruins when it was bought by the State in 1930, the castle has since been restored and is open to visitors. After walking up a small path, you will pass through the drawbridge, and can admire the five towers and their defensive systems from the outside, along with the curtain walls that connect them. There is a 3D film to help you understand this fortress' history. There are terminals and touchscreen tablets so you can step back in time and see how the place would have looked in different eras. Temporary exhibitions, shows and night-time trails keep visitors entertained.

For fans of mysteries and the uncanny, the castle is said to be haunted. Yet another reason to pay it a visit!

Corsair town looking onto the sea, Saint-Malo is a renowned seaside resort today. Surrounded by ramparts, the fortified city of Saint-Malo was superbly rebuilt to its original style after 80% of it was destroyed in August 1944. The town of Saint-Malo forms a magnificent whole with its ramparts, castle and beautiful buildings. A walk around the ramparts is essential and offers stunning views of the sea, the sandy beaches below, the National Fort (built by Vauban), the port and the buildings inside the fortified city.

To acquaint with the history of Saint-Malo, one can head towards the big keep of the castle, which is home to the Malouin City and Countryside History museum.

Visitors can also go to the Big Aquarium of Saint-Malo, a place entirely devoted to the marine world.

Every four years, the town of Saint-Malo is the starting point of the famous Route du Rhum solo transatlantic yacht race to Pointe-à-Pitre in Guadeloupe.

Fishing port and oyster farming centre, Cancale is renowned for its flat oysters that are enjoyed by all lovers of seafood. Situated in the Mont-Saint-Michel bay, Cancale is a seaside resort where it is good to:

• Walk on the quays and piers of the little harbour of La Houle;
• Stroll on the Douaniers footpath;
• Relax on its beaches;
• Taste its famous oysters.

From the top of the tower of the church, the view of Cancale, its port, its beaches and the Mont-Saint-Michel bay is superb.

The Grouin head point, which marks the end of the Emerald Coast, has a footpath and viewpoint indicator where you can fully appreciate the wild beauty of the place.

Forty or so kilometres in length, the Emerald Coast (Côte d'Émeraude) runs along the north side of Brittany, between Cancale and Cape Fréhel. It is named after the sea's emerald colour.

This magnificent coastal part of Brittany can be enjoyed on foot, on horseback, by bike… it's a hikers' paradise! There are 350 kilometres of marked paths, including the GR34.

In summer, all manner of water sports and outdoor activities, and even spa therapy breaks, await holidaymakers at the seaside resorts, like Dinard, Saint-Malo, Saint-Briac-sur-Mer, Saint-Lunaire or Saint-Coulomb, and on the lovely, sandy beaches…

Visitors will find small fishing harbours, wildlife observation points, spectacular spring tides (especially in the Bay of Saint-Malo) and superbly colourful landscapes, not forgetting Breton gastronomy, which is always delicious.

One unmissable attraction on the Emerald Coast is Cape Fréhel, to the west, an impressive site and a listed ornithological reserve. Its cliffs stand 70 metres above the sea.

Not far from there, take the time to stop by Fort la Latte Castle, built in the 14th century on a rocky cape. It towers majestically over the English Channel.

Close by, the resort of Saint-Cast-le-Guildo is a charming place with its small harbour, coastal paths and seven sandy beaches!

Once a corsair town, the fortified town of Saint-Malo is built on a rock. With its magnificent ramparts, it offers stunning views of the sea and the Channel Islands of Jersey, Guernsey and Sark. While the walk around the ramparts is a must, the town of Robert Surcouf and Jacques Cartier has plenty to offer, too. It boasts picturesque cobbled streets, splendid ship-owners' houses and a castle, whose keep houses the History Museum of the Town and Pays Malouin. In Saint-Malo, you can watch the spring tides at first hand, or attend the start of the Route du Rhum race. At low tide, visit the National Fort built to plans by Vauban. Discover Chateaubriand's tomb on the islet of Le Grand Bé, or take a boat tour of the Bay of Saint-Malo…

Walkers and cyclists can follow the Rance Valley trail, which is marked with arrows. Windmills, ship-owners' country houses called malouinières, and fishing villages can all be seen along the way.

Another essential stop is the famous seaside resort of Dinard. It still has some magnificent villas reflecting its past as a Belle Époque holiday destination: the Moonlight Promenade and the Malouine Promenade will reveal some of them to you.

Between Dinard and Saint-Malo, the Rance tidal power plant, which EDF began operating in 1966, is open to the public: an interesting place to learn how the motion of the tides is used to generate electricity.

In medieval Dinan, a Town of Art and History, take the time to walk around the side streets, visit the feudal castle, and admire the half-timbered houses and beautiful religious buildings.

No tour of Cancale would be complete without a trip to the oyster beds or the Marine Farm, and a tasting of specialities from the sea, while enjoying a view of La Houle harbour for example. The Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions has an exhibition of objects, costumes and traditions that are part of local life in Cancale.

This pretty little medieval town in Côtes-d'Armor is on the list of the Most Beautiful Villages of France and is also part of the Small Towns of Character network.

Perched on a hill, Moncontour is still surrounded by its ramparts built in the 13th and 14th centuries.

Its side streets are lovely for a walk, admiring its half-timbered houses and bourgeois residences along the way.

In the 16th century, the town was shaped by its involvement in producing and selling linen. This activity helped it to develop and enabled the construction of several buildings which are now listed or registered as Historic Monuments. They include the Church of St. Maturinus, with its exceptional 16th-century stained glass windows, the presbytery, and many beautiful mansions that belonged to rich traders, like the old Veillet-Dufrêche mansion and the Kerjégu mansion, which is now the town hall.

Notable historic monuments include two 16th and 17th-century houses on Rue du Docteur Sagory, the Clézieux mansion, the Mognet tower and the Faubourg Saint-Jean door.

Capital of the Brittany region and City of Art and History, Rennes offers visitors a wealth of fantastic architecture in its old town, from medieval and Renaissance houses to majestic classical buildings. The historic centre is lovely to wander around with its typical paved streets, lively squares lined with café terraces, its crêperies and shops. Not far from the 15th-century Portes Mordelaises gate, formerly the city's main entrance (and through which the Dukes of Brittany passed when Rennes was their seat), is Saint-Pierre cathedral, a richly-decorated 19th-century building. There are also many must-see squares, including the Place du Champ-Jacquet with its particularly picturesque old timber-framed houses, the Place de l'Hôtel de Ville, Place du Parlement de Bretagne, Place de la République with its old trade palace and Place des Lices with its covered market. The Parlement de Bretagne palace, meticulously restored after a fire in 1994, and the Town Hall are open to the public.

One can then head towards the Thabor garden, a wonderful 10-hectare park featuring among others a botanical garden, a rose garden and a French-style formal garden.

The Fine art museum is home to paintings from the 14th to the 20th century, and in particular the famous work by Georges La Tour, The Newborn.

The Brittany museum is dedicated to the history of Brittany and houses archaeological collections, currencies collections, medals and photos, as well as objects, furniture and utensils from Breton homes.

The Pays de Renne heritage museum, situated south of the city, recounts five centuries of history of the Bintinais farm through an exhibition of objects and room reconstructions.

An event not to be missed: the big marché aux Lices market, which takes place every Saturday morning in the Lices square.

At the beginning of July, the Tombées de la Nuit (Nightfalls) festival is an important event when actors, musicians, jugglers and acrobats perform in the city streets.

"Merveille de l'Occident" (Wonder of the West) and important pilgrimage site since the Middle Ages, the Mont-Saint-Michel is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and attracts visitors from all over the world. Dedicated to Saint-Michel in 708, the mount is the most visited site in France today. Rising in the middle of a magnificent wild bay, the Mont-Saint-Michel arouses delight and admiration, with its abbey perched on top of a rocky island and its medieval town surrounded by ramparts. Once passed the fortified gates marking the entrance to the village, walkers and pilgrims discover at first the Grande-Rue high street, its old granite residences, its museums and its souvenirs shops. In this lively street, the Mère Poulard restaurant is a well-known place renowned for its omelettes. After climbing the hillside of Grande-Rue as well as the Grand Degré stair leading to the sanctuary, the visit of the abbey can commence.

Dominated by the tower of its abbey church, the Benedictine abbey of the Mont-Saint-Michel offers a magnificent variety of architecture ranging from the 11th to the 16th century. The 11th-century Romanesque abbey church; the monks' covered walkway; the Merveille, a set of six rooms on three levels that are the refectory, the Hosts room, the aumônerie, the cloister, the Knights room and the cellar, all constituting a remarkable example of religious art.

After the visit, a stroll on the rampart walk (chemin de ronde) situated at the foot of the abbey is imperative. From there, the view of the residences of the medieval town and the bay is splendid.

Listed on the UNESCO Word Heritage, the Mont-Saint-Michel bay boasts a large biodiversity. This vast area of natural heritage also experiences the strongest tides in Europe. In addition, it is a favourite place for wild birds. The salt meadows of Mont-Saint-Michel bay, where sheep quietly graze, are the largest in France.