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How could the Earth, Gaia, with all her beauty and perfect conditions for us and for so many other forms of life to flourish, be anything but a living being … an angel? To come face to face with the Earth not as a conglomeration of physical facts but in the person of its Angel…

If you are looking for a woodland walk, or maybe a mushroom gathering expedition, you will be spoilt for choice in Brittany’s many national forests. You can observe and be fascinated by the wildlife and the gorgeous woodland scents will be a tonic to recharge those batteries. Huelgoat Forest You will probably feel small up…

A land of myths and legends, Brittany is a region with a true spirit of adventure so there are plenty of attractions for active children, whether they like dinosaurs, the world under the sea, zoo animals or even far away into space. There are historical villages and a fairy-tale chateau to explore too, if the…

On the south coast of Brittany, you will find Vannes. It is quite a sizeable town and is also Morbihan’s capital. When you visit Morbihan, Vannes is one of the highlights you won’t want to miss. There is a great deal to discover in this fascinating historical town, so I would recommend allowing plenty of…

The Cotes d’Armor department is in northern Brittany. It is mainly visited for its stunning coastline including the coast of pink granite and many of its beaches. Alongside these are the attractive historical towns such as Dinan and Lannion which provide a fascinating insight into the long and colourful history of the region. The Cotes…

Saint Nazaire – The Harbour Saint Nazaire is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France. The town has a major harbour on the right bank of the Loire river estuary, which is near the Atlantic Ocean. The port has always been at the soul of Saint-Nazaires’ history , its very raison d’etre. These…

Dinard is on the coast of north eastern Brittany just across the Rance estuary from Saint Malo. The beginning of Dinard as a fishing village were pushed aside at the end of the 19th century, when the wealthy and fashionable of that time built their luxury houses there. Dinard has an unexpectedly mild climate for…

Brest is Brittany’s second largest administrative centres and really does have a lot to offer. In 1944 Brest was heavily bombed however it was not this that was the towns most interesting feature. It has been rebuilt around a vision of the future, with incredible constructions like the Pont de l’Iroise bridge which crosses the…

The stunning city of St Malo in Brittany curves out to the sea on a natural and beautiful harbour, that has created some of the best sandy beaches on the Emerald Coast. St Malo was built on a rock standing in a naturally defensive position at the mouth of the river Rance. The city’s roots…

Brittany’s coastline stretches to more than 1200kms. From Mont St Michel which goes just into Normandy and along to the Loire. It provides all you could possibly want in terms of sightseeing and gorgeous walks. The west and north coasts are the best areas to focus on. With the great expanse of wilderness which you…

Quimper is the administrative capital of the Finistere department and it is also regarded by many as the cultural heart of Brittany. The town is best known for its cathedral, the atmospheric old quarter and the wonderful museums but it is also well known for its annual festival which celebrates Breton culture. You will find…

Brittany from its walled cities and glorious castles to magnificent churches, its built heritage look pretty appealing. Traditional farms and manors are liberally scattered across the beautiful countryside. The church commissioned both fine and modest buildings from major abbeys and cathedrals to the tiniest, quaintest chapels. Maritime Heritage Brittany has numerous traditional fishing ports and…

The Cote de Granit Rose (pink granit coast) runs between Plestin Les Greves and Louannec in the Cotes d’Armor department of Brittany and is in fact one of the most beautiful and outstanding coastlines in Europe. This amazing thirty kilometre stretch of coast has an incredible pink colour which is edged with turquoise sea and…

The Domain of Boutiguery is located on the left bank of the beautiful river Odet, which is in the locality of Pors-Mellou (port of mills) in the commune of Gouesnach in south Finistere. The Boutiguery estate bursts into flower every Spring, with an explosion of stunning colours, when its 400,00 Azaleas and Rhododendrons come into…

Brittany or how it was known in antiquity, the Armorican peninsula, is famed for its numerous Neolithic monuments. Most of the great burial chambers here predate the Egyptian pyramids by a long time. They consisted of a dolmen or stone chamber, for the bodies, covered by a tumulus, an earth mound. As to the many…

Off the coast of Paimpol is Ile Brehat which is in fact one of Brittany’s loveliest island. It is a small island also affectionately known as the ‘Island of Flowers’. The setting of the trees and flowers against the beautiful backdrop of the pink granite of the island makes it a very attractive combination. Brehat…

Want to try something new rather than the norm? Here is a few random ones we have picked which are a little on the unusual side but are great places to stay in wonderful Brittany. Time to unleash your wild side.   Roulotte du Patis de la Houssais In Guer, a perfect back to nature…

Brittany is a beautiful place to live and visit. Rich in agricultural landscapes and coastline, it has a little bit of everything for everyone. Brittany is very well known for its amazing rocks which are very wild in colour and form. The seascapes can be quite dramatic, the landscapes in land are quite gentle and…

Brittany is known for its seafood and amazing beaches but would you associate the region for its local wine? Probably not! Vineyards are beginning to appear all over France’s north western region. Soon you could find a bottle of Brittany white or red in your local shop. For many years wine growing in Brittany has…

Guest post by Fruitcake @barjan Josie wandered tentatively down to the stream and sat down on the bank, shielding her eyes from the strong July sun, as it’s rays sent fingers of light through the trees on the other side. She watched as the warm breeze played with the top of the water, forming ever…

Guest blog by Fruitcake @barjan February brought the promise of Spring, days were getting longer and we were able to work longer outside. Besides our usual chores of loo emptying, lifting water from the well, soaking washing, rinsing and putting it through the mangle, ongoing rubbish clearing and burning, the fencing progressed well. A smart…

Guest blog by Fruitcake @barjan Eleven days after our arrival we finally managed to go to Saumur to organise the connection of a phone. It was bitterly cold and the heater in the van didn’t work because it was frozen! There were huge, thick ice floes floating down the river Loire as we crossed the…

By Fruitcake @barjan The bright yellow taxi pulled up outside Patsy’s flat and sounded the horn, she was rushing around grabbing her coat and baggage and then remembered that she hadn’t left her flatmate the note about the plumber coming tomorrow morning, she opened the door and yelled to the taxi driver “I’m just coming,…

Guest Blog by Fruitcake @barjan On the 11th December it was all systems go after hearing the news that we would complete on 13th. We had got the dog’s export certificates & sedatives for the journey from the vet’s, next it was to the solicitor’s to sign, the bank likewise and to say goodbye, travel…

Guest Blog by @cheekiweeki Driving in the car this morning and listened to 5Live. Very interesting. You can play it and listenat this link http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07z3z98 . Emma interviewed a lady in the studio who was diagnosed with cancer in May 2016 with Stage 4. She was offered palliative care by the NHS who told her…

A story by Fruitcake @barjan (7) “I shall never get used to that part of the job” Josie said to Rob “It’s awful seeing the painful recognition on their faces” Rob suppressed his own dislike and said “Yup it’s no picnic, but all the more reason for us to get on and find the scumbag…

A story by Fruitcake @barjan Part 2 -4-   Sarah got back at about 2.30pm, “Hi darling, I’m back!” she called out to Tom, he came out of the darkroom, “Hi honey, did you have a good lunch?” he said, grabbing her around the waist, she kissed him and said “Yes I did thank you,…

A story by Fruitcake @barjan  Tom Dexter loaded his photographic material into his car, he’d had a busy week, but was pleased with today’s work, he thought he’d got some really good shots for the nature calendar that he’d been commissioned to do. He was glad it was the start of the weekend as he…

Guest blog by Fruitcake @barjan I was awake at 4am on our first morning back! I rang the agent for Paula, they assumed we’d sold to the Association so nothing had been done. I rang the agent for the Association to ask if they were in a hurry, they thought they might be, so rang…

Guest blog by Fruitcake @barjan When there was no news from either the agents or the buyer and as we’d gone multi agency, I instructed them to remove the sold sign from their board. I advertised everywhere that I could and made regular visits to every agency that we had it advertised with. We had…

Guest blog by Fruitcake @barjan After returning from our Easter trip we were very down and despondent and immediately began discussions with a friend who could organise the use of a lorry with the thought of a trip in July. Our younger daughter said that this time her and her boyfriend would like to come…

Guest blog by Fruitcake @barjan There then followed many months of uncertainty and stress, viewers getting our hopes up then coming up with bizarre reasons for not going ahead (one decided, after two visits and a coffee morning, it was too cold in the area! – Another said he couldn’t live in a house where…

Guest post by @prasanna “Beauty doth of itself persuade the eyes of men without an orator.” — Shakespeare Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres Chartres Cathedral remains supreme in Christian cathedral culture. It is the incarnation of the Sacred, par excellence, whatever the form, and for many Chartres is a place of extraordinary light. Located in the…

By Fruitcake @barjan John Savage was really looking forward to his week away, he’d been working flat out for the last 6 months to meet all sorts of deadlines and it had intensified since the new editor had taken over a month ago. John just wanted to get away on his own for some peace…

Guest blog by Fruitcake @barjan The day after our exciting day of finally purchasing our beloved ruin we had to make preparations to return to the UK, tidying, shopping, filling up the fuel tank etc. Called into the young couple, as invited, for an apertif at lunchtime, coming away with lettuces and cherries, then in…

Guest blog by Fruitcake @barjan Andrew woke with a start from his doze on the beach, as something was pulling his sleeve and a strange voice was pleading with him “Please come and help us, we can’t manage on our own”. When Andrew opened his eyes he jumped up with a start “What the…?” a…

Hello there my fellow community brothers and sisters of this world! Firstly I would like to say a big thank you to our supportive members who have helped shape and grow our community, as well as offer a very warm welcome to all our new members. Our little community has grown from a tiny acorn…

Blog by Fruitcake @barjan Saturday 1st April We have been back from our cottage for only one week – it seems longer – we speak of nothing else, our lives are spent either thinking of our last trip or planning the next, or wondering how long it will be before we can move there permanently…

Guest Blog by Fruitcake @barjan THE TRAIN The guard blew the whistle, the doors closed and the train glided out of the station, Mary settled back in her seat ready to enjoy the gentle swaying of the carriage and the soothing “click clack” of the wheels on the track as the train gathered speed. She…

Guest blog by Fruitcake @barjan The day after our signing (also our wedding anniversary) we awoke to a lovely, sunny, crisp, frosty morning after a really cosy and warm night, it turned into a really warm day. After breakfast we got into our work clothes and spent the whole day clearing the rest of the…

We were up at 3am Sunday morning and, after a quick bowl of cereal, made our way to Dover to sail at 5.30am and thankfully we had an uneventful journey and a lovely crossing to be followed by a very calm and problem free journey when we arrived in France, at last! At 2.30pm we…

We decided, as we are allowed to camp in our one room with slimy green walls, that it would be great fun and quite symbolic to sign the Compromis on my birthday actually in the house and I made all the arrangements for the journey. Three days before said birthday the day was here at…

THE NEXT STAGE OF OUR ADVENTURE by Fruitcake. Having decided to buy the house with the one room with green slimy walls and a ruin attached, there then followed weeks of frustration, as the English agent in the agency- we’ll call him Roger to avoid using his real name – with whom we had to…

Smell New mown hay, ripened corn, blossom wafting on the breeze, old fashioned roses, lavender, fat ripe peaches and strawberries. New born babies, fresh milled coffee, honeysuckle really sweet, laundry dried on a sunny day, the sea, and bluebells in woods sheltered from the heat. Sight Daffodils, cowslips and all the flowers of the spring,…

Bonjour…Ca Va…?? It has often been said/thought by many, that ‘If I had a brain, I would be seriously bl**dy dangerous’…!!!….. ….and today is absolutely nay exception….!!! …..This morning I nipped to the village to grab some diluting juice for the children that are coming with their parents for the neighbours ‘Afternoon Tea Portes Ouvertes’…

A short story by Fruitcake @barjan Maisie & Doris strolled along the sea front, as they often did on a fine afternoon, sometimes they would stroll in companionable silence, just enjoying each other’s company, sometimes, like today, they would find all sorts to chat about. Maisie & Doris have been friends for over forty years,…

A poem by Fruitcake @barjan Her eyes are red rimmed, she’s been crying it seems, the love of my life, the girl of my dreams “What is it my love? You’re upset I can tell, I love you my darling, I know you so well” She answers me not, her head bowed down low, there’s…

After our friends bought a holiday home in the Mayenne, we realised that it could be possible for us to realise our dream to renovate an old cottage and have a piece of land. Two years of saving every penny we could by working extra hours (7 days per week for hubby) selling all we…

Opening a personal bank account for EU passport holder as a resident in France is not too difficult. There are eight retail high street banks in France, as follows: Crédit Agricole (CA) BNP Paribas. Société Générale. Caisse d’Epargne (CE) Banque Populaire (BP) Crédit Mutuel. La Banque Postale. LCL. Requirements are a Passport, occasionally a birth…

Over dinner last night we got to talking about all the people that had sadly died this year, and as often happens you pour another and start to reminisce of memories past, and remarkably how even in death humour can be found. When my lovely Mum passed away, Dad struggled to deal with where and…

Oh dear me! The infamous carte vitale. Absolutely essential if you find it necessary to access medical care. A prime example of French bureaucracy at its best. Essential in the sense that without it you’re not registered with the French health healthcare system and if you’re not registered with the French healthcare system you have…

For those who are selling a car in France – it can be a little confusing as we just found as the legalities are a little different to the UK. I have listed them and put links in where appropriate. The following documents are necessary and are to be competed by the Seller. Certificat de…

Many of us run computers and have no idea on how to keep them running smoothly. https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb offers a search box in which you type in your operating system and whether its Disc Cleanup or Defragment you wish to run and will give you detailed instructions on how to find the programme on your computer…

When I left school at 15yrs old I was encouraged to work in an office – I hated it! Mum said I could hand in my month’s notice on condition I found another job before the month was up. “What do you want to do?” asked a friend “I don’t really know, something to do…

By Andy Kennedy While I was lying in hospital with nothing to do I was watching the second hand on the clock up on the wall. As I watched it ticking its way around I thought, that’s my life ticking away, each tick is another second of my life gone and I thunk this poem…

Brittany reminds me of Trees and wild-spaces. I would like to post a tribute to trees by the fabulous writer Herman Hesse. Image: Huelgoat from a visit some years back. I love the trees there. The magic of bolders and glades and the small grottos with their tiny caves. “For me, trees have always been…

Me Pam Ayres Bit I am a little chicken, I trot about all day quietly a-pecking in the normal way I ‘ave some corn each day and me oats about once a week The corn is quite delicious of the oats I cannot speak! The farmer treats me kindly ‘e treats me with respect but…

A miserable dark Monday evening around 9pm, pouring with rain so I decided to walk a neighbour back home who had been visiting us. In just a fraction of a moment I was on the deck – I had walked too near the edge of the tarmac and slipped on the mud and fell! YES…

La Pierre Le Bigaut – Huge Annual Charity Cycling Event Callac – Brittany – France – 25th June 2016 Europe’s 3rd largest cycling event starts every year from the Place du Centre in Callac. The Pierre le Bigaut event draws up to 7000 cyclists from all over Europe and is essentially a charity event to…

I am amazed to see that poor ole ‘The Donald’ is losing on this site’s poll. Having spent five months in the States, October through February, and I listen to American radio every day, it seems to me that many people on this side of the pond are not in tune with what is going…

When I arrived in Finistère with my husband and son I wondered how I would go about making new friends, we had two french families we knew well but didn’t want to live in their pocket. I saw an ad in a local farmers co-op for a dog training school and having two Field champion…

I have been gone from UK for just over eight years now apart from a weekend visit to take a relative back. My reasons for leaving were the same as many and judging by what has been happening since I left, I know we made the right decision. This was bought into focus more strongly…

Well! We moved to north Morbihan at the beginning of November, 2015, amidst horror stories about French bureaucracy and bureaucrats. About the way they treat people, the way they suddenly go off to another department, the way they suddenly close for lunch (nobody interferes with a French fonctionaire’s lunch!), their general superior, sneering attitude, and…

There was a time when we just used to get old. We still do. There was a time when getting old was just part of the natural process of life. It still is. They used to say “Don’t mind Auntie Gladys she’s gone a bit ga-ga now – well it’s to be expected she is…

Last year around this time our toilet started to evacuate at a more slower speed than normal. This did not impress me one bit. I let it develop hoping the toilet fairies would fix it one night but no luck there. The bowl started to fill almost to the rim and then it would slowly…

Enquire Within Upon Everything was a how-to book for domestic life, first published in 1856 by Houlston and Sons of Paternoster Square in London. The editor was Robert Kemp Philp. It was then continuously reprinted in many new and updated editions as additional information and articles were added. The book was created with the intention…

Would you like to write a blog for United in Brittany? If you have something to say then we would love to hear it! Life in Brittany can bring some pretty interesting tales so if you have a story to share about your experiences then this is the place to do it. From cautionary tales…