Rent an idyllic holiday home in the heart of rural Brittany
La Petite Retraite

Places of interest

One of the most breath-taking sights on the coast of France, Mont St Michel stands proudly on the Couesnon estuary between Brittany and Normandy. Founded as a Benedictine abbey in 966 AD, the mount drew large numbers of pilgrims throughout the 12th and 13th century. St Malo is a port city - historically, the starting point for adventurous seafarers setting sail for fame, fortune and undiscovered lands. The walled city has a rampart walk offering magnificent views of the area. Dinan is an undisputably beautiful medieval town enclosed by 2 miles of ancient walls - the oldest and biggest ramparts in Brittany. Overlooking the valley of the river Rance, Dinan has a unique architectural heritage, with its half-timbered houses, narrow streets and a 14th century keep.

Beaches and Countryside
The coastline is spectacular, with its high cliffs, rockpools and sandy beaches. The closest beaches to the cottage are a half hour drive away, so don't forget your bucket and spade! Or how about a game of french boules by the sea? You can even ride horses across the sand with Mont St Michel as a stunning backdrop.

Walkers, cyclists and anglers are especially in their element here. Footpaths are maintained and marked by the Federation Francaise de la Randonnee Pedestre based in Rennes (www.ffrp.asso.fr). As for anglers, there's a trout fishing lake just five minutes from the cottage.

For golfers there are 32 courses to play on in Brittany; a list is available from the Ligue de Golf de Bretagne, the phone number if you're calling from the UK is 0033 2 99 31 68 80.

Brittany is also one of the best places for birdwatching; there are almost 20 bird sanctuaries here such as the one at Ile des Landes off the Pointe du Grouin. For more information try www.bretagne-vivante.asso.fr

Family fun
Cobac Park is just one of the nearby attractions all the family can enjoy - a fantastic water park with flumes and slides, quad bikes, go-carts, a boating lake, crazy golf, and a monkey bridge for the adventurous are just some of the activities on offer. See their website www.cobac-parc.com.
The excellent aquarium at St Malo is worth a visit for its amazing shark room alone - a circular floor-to-ceiling tank from where you can watch sharks and turtles swim past. There's a touch pool for the kids, and a brilliant submarine ride for a really close-up experience. Visit www.aquarium-st-malo.com for more details.
There's a fabulous reptile park close to Mont St Michel, where children can feed and stroke the giant tortoises. Some are over 100 years old! There are alligators, crocs and snakes too...but thankfully, behind glass. See www.le-reptilarium.com/default.html.
For woodland walks, bike hire, fishing, beautiful scenery...and a boating lake with a difference, visit Villecartier Forest. For more details see www.ot-fougeres.fr/infos/info6.htm.

Cuisine
Brittany is famed for its excellent seafood, free-range poultry and lamb, and fresh-picked vegetables. Try the flat oysters (belons) at Cancale, or the Kig Ha Fars, a traditional stew.
Other local specialities include pancakes, both savoury (galettes) and sweet (crepes). The regional drink is cider. But take care …it can be strong stuff for the unwary!

Normandy Beaches
The infamous beaches where the allies landed during the Second World War are within two hours' drive; Juno, Sword, Gold, Utah and Omaha are all marked with memorials. Seeing them today is a truly moving experience. Museums to visit include the D-Day Landings Museum at Arromanches, and the Memorial Pegasus at Caen. Closer to the cottage, there is a large American Cemetery in St James where simple stones mark the graves of US soldiers who died during the 1944 offensive. Inside the chapel is a vivid description of the final days of the War.