Brittany
| RÃÂégion Bretagne | |
|---|---|
 Details | |
| Information | |
| Capital: | Rennes |
| Population
- Total - Density |
2 972 700 (2003) 107 /km² |
| Area | 27 208 km² |
| Arrondissements | 15 |
| Cantons | 201 |
| Communes | 1 268 |
| President of the regional council | Jean-Yves Le Drian |
| DÃÂépartements | |
|
Ille-et-Vilaine (35) Morbihan (56) FinistÃÂère (29) | |
| Location | |
 | |
This article is about a region of France; Brittany also refers to the Brittany spaniel, a breed of dog.
Brittany (French Bretagne, Breton Breizh) is a peninsula in north-west France, bordering the English Channel on the north and the Bay of Biscay on the south. It is also an administrative region of France.
| Table of contents |
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2 Sights 3 Culture 4 Miscellaneous |
The region was a part of Armorica, and conquered by the Romans. Around 500 AD, the area was settled by Britons, driven from the British Isles by the Anglo-Saxons. These Britons gave the name to the region. (The name Brittany means "Lesser Britain," by contrast with Great Britain). In the early Middle Ages, Brittany was divided into three kingdoms - Domnonia, Cornouaille, and Bro Waroch - which eventually were incorporated into the Duchy of Brittany.
A large part of the département Loire-Atlantique (including the city of Nantes) was historically part of Brittany, but is now part of the Pays de la Loire region.
Brittany is famous for its megalithic monuments, which are scattered over the peninsula, notably near Carnac. The purpose of these monuments is still unknown, and many local people are reluctant to entertain speculation on the subject.
A Celtic language, Breton, is still spoken in some parts of Brittany - traditionally in the west. In the east, a langue d'oÃÂïl known as Gallo, which is still spoken, was the traditional language until the French language came to dominate. Gallo now finds itself under pressure not only from the dominant Francophone culture, but also from the Breton language revival which is gaining ground in territory that was traditionally Gallo-speaking.
Traditional costume in Brittany around 1900
A number of separatist groups exist, fighting for the independence of Brittany. However, they enjoy no support in elections.
History
Sights
Culture
Miscellaneous
Regions of France
Alsace | Aquitaine | Auvergne | Lower Normandy | Burgundy | Brittany | Centre | Champagne-Ardenne | Corsica | Franche-ComtÃÂé | Upper Normandy | ÃÂÃÂle-de-France | Languedoc-Roussillon | Limousin | Lorraine | Midi-PyrÃÂénÃÂées | Nord-Pas-de-Calais | Loire Region | Picardy | Poitou-Charentes | Provence-Alpes-CÃÂôte-d'Azur | RhÃÂône-Alpes
Overseas Departments
Guadeloupe | Martinique | French Guiana | RÃÂéunion