Saint-Brieuc

Visit Saint-Brieuc, Brittany

St-Brieuc is in north-eastern Brittany in the Cotes d'Armor department. It is true to say that the town doesn't place its main focus on tourism, but there are some interesting sites to see in Saint-Brieuc if you allow the time to explore.

Exploring Saint-Brieuc

Your visit will focus in the centre of the town (we did find parking a bit of a challenge), where the main things of interest are the cathedral and the half-timbered medieval houses in the streets that immediately surround the cathedral.

The 15th century cathedral of Saint Etienne is in gothic style impressively fortified - the main entrance has sturdy 100 feet high towers either side with slits that allowed weapons to be fired from them - quite a feat given that the cathedral was originally built on wooden supports to stop it sinking into the marshes that were here at the time. Inside the cathedral there is also some very attractive decoration, such as the 18th century altarpiece.

The medieval quarter of Saint-Brieuc, next to the cathedral, is focussed around Place au Lin, Place Louis Guilloux and Rue Fardel, and contains some attractive ancient half-timbered houses. The most interesting medieval buildings are perhaps the 'Hotel of the Dukes of Brittany' on Place Louis Guilloux, 16th century and with ornate decoration, and the Maison du Ribeault on Place au Lin (said to be the oldest house in Saint-Brieuc).

Other buildings we found architecturally interesting in Saint-Brieuc include the 15th century Quicangrogne Manor and the imposing 19th century Town Hall, both in the Place du General de Gaulle. See also the small Chapel of Saint-Guillame and Chapel Notre-Dame-de-la-Fontaine and the 19th century Caisse d'Epargne building.

Other activities in Saint-Brieuc

Saint-Brieuc also has an ever-bustling pedestrianised shopping centre with a very wide range of shops and other commerces, and lots of outdoor cafes in the squares and streets where you can watch the world pass by and where buskers perform in the summer.

When shopping becomes too much, set off for one of the parcs that help the town qualify as a 'town in bloom' - perhaps the parc des promenades, a haven of peace in the town with shady trees and various statues to enjoy. A little outside the town centre the park around the Villa Rohannec'h is also pleasant to explore, with the imposing villa as an impressive backdrop.

The Museum of Art and History in Saint-Brieuc has numerous objects explaining the history of the town and industry in the surrounding region, largely related to maritime,  agricultural and local industry activities - see particularly the lovely models of historical ships.

See Brittany and Cotes-d'Armor (the region and department for Saint-Brieuc) for more travel ideas...

Tourist classifications for Saint-Brieuc: Village in bloom (ville fleurie) 3*;

Suggested places to visit near Saint-Brieuc, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Ile Brehat 39km; Plancoet 39km; Forges des Salles 44km; Treguier 46km;

Saint-Brieuc tourist information: sights and attractions nearby

Jardin du Colombier - remarkable garden (16km) : Quintin - ville fleurie 4* (16km) : Cap d'Erquy / Cap Frehel - grand site of france (26km) : Beauport Abbey - grand site of france (34km) : Saint-Gilles-Vieux-Marche - ville fleurie 4* (34km) : Jardin du château de la Roche-Jagu - remarkable garden (37km) : Jardin du Botrain - remarkable garden (38km) : Cap Frehel - site of natural beauty (38km) :

See more places and a map at places near Saint-Brieuc