Brittany - first report of my trip - La Baule

Brittany is a sea-buffeted peninsula jutting out from the corner of Northwest France and holds fast to its very distinct personality and culture and language. Mysterious prehistoric alignments, fascinating parish closes and medieval fortresses await your discovery. It has a long jagged coastline which really distinguishes this ‘land of the sea”, however, sunbathe in sandy coves and marvel at pink granite cliffs. Explore modern, dynamic cities and bustling ports – sampling the freshest seafood-then escape to remote, flower-covered islands inhabited only by seabirds.
Brittany is divided into 6 different areas – Loire-Atlantique, Morbihan, Southern Finistere, Northern Finistere, Cotes d’Armor and Ille-et-Vilaine.
During my stay last month I visited each area and this report starts off where I began, in the south of Brittany in the Loire-Atlantique.
I flew into Paris and from the airport caught the French bullet train (TGV) for a fast 3 hour journey (at almost 200 miles per hour) to the historic capital of the Dukes of Brittany, the city of Nantes. From here I rented a car and drove for 1 hour to the famous beach resort area known as La Baule. The resort town is known all throughout Europe for its exceptionally long, sandy beach that stretches for 5 miles. The town is filled with turn of the century (20th that is) villas and grand homes. The seafront itself (unfortunately) is now a series of apartment blocks (with a few luxurious hotels tossed in,) but get behind a block or two in from the beach and here you’ll feel what it was like during the Belle Epoch of France. The grand homes and villas are still there.
The sweep of the beach is glorious and one can see why it has always attracted the French families for their vacations. The French Riviera although beautiful, its beaches are stone pebbles and not sand, like in Brittany. Because of the Jet-stream, Brittany is temperate in climate and you’ll find palm tress growing everywhere, even thought you are close to the stormy English Channel.
From La Baule you can take day trips along the wild and gorgeous coastline to the charming seaside fishing port (very New England style) of Le Croisic.
……………..more to following in my next report

The historic Relais & Chateaux hotel - Castle-Marie-Louise

, located right across from the beach in La Baule.