Brest |
| Monday, 02 March 2009 00:00 |
 Brest is among France’s most important trade centers and has been for hundreds of years. The town is situated on the western tip of the Brittany region at the end of the Rade de Brest sound. This protected location and the natural harbor where the Penfeld river opens into the sea destined Brest to be an important trade and military port. Tourism has only added to the economic strength of the region. The city has a population of 150,000, a vivid history and thriving art scene. This is evident in the cityscape, characterized by grand representational buildings and fabulous museums. On top of this the city’s university has an excellent reputation and the students lighten up city life. Exploring Brest is quite easy, and a few points should not be left off any itinerary. The Château, an impressive fort above the river, is the first stop on any tourist tour. The fort is one of the few buildings that survived allied bombing in summer of 1944 and the museum paints a clear picture of Brest’s turbulent history, dominated in part by French and in part by English rulers. One of the towers is home to the Musée Naval, a great exhibition on naval history and the Brest harbor. A similarly historic sight is the Tour Tanguy, a defensive tower close to Pont de Recouvrance bridge. From here it is not far to Maison de la Fontaine, one of the oldest buildings in town, housing contemporary exhibitions. For the best art exhibition in town go to the Musée des Beaux Arts after which you can relax your tired feet by taking a nap in the botanical gardens Vallon du Stang Alar. For slightly lighter entertainment check into the Océanopolis, a huge theme park featuring an aquarium with 42 seawater basins, simulators, and video presentations revolving around the ocean. Brest has earned a solid reputation as a cultural capital of Europe by staging various events attracting international artists and audience. Among them are the annual short film festival Festival européen du film court de Brest as well as the electronic music festival Astropolis. Every four years a sailing festival is a colorful celebration of the sport as well as the international community participating. After a few exciting days in the city you should take some time to explore the surroundings. Endless rugged cliffs along the coast make room here and there for romantic sandy beaches. Inland you will find stunning scenery like the Monts D’Arrée and Montages Noires (Black Mountains). The religious heritage of the region is evident in countless little churches and monasteries along the way. |
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