Brest was heavily bombarded by the Allies during WW2, which
destroyed most of the city leaving only a few medieval buildings and
fortifications intact. I took a short ride into town, and walked along the well
laid out modern downtown, without being inspired to linger longer.
An excursion into the country side of Brittany to visit
Quimper seemed the better option. Celts from Britain and Wales, which were the
original inhabitants, left their mark and contributed to the area’s distinct
culture of language, food and music. French cuisine is typical as well, and
crepes either piquant or sweet (called galettes here) are a staple.
The area of Brittany is also known as Finisterre, as it lies
almost at the outermost north west edge of France, protruding almost equally
into the Atlantic and the western end of the English Channel. Along the rocky
coasts here, villages keep fishing and sail-making traditions alive. Cider is
the local beverage due to the prevalence of apple trees growing in the region.
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| Resting Bishop... |
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| Small detail of a stained glass window |
Quimper, a small town not too far from Brest, is charming
with a medieval feel, a cathedral with impressive stained glass windows,
stately manor houses and a quaintly cosy street scape with unusual houses
constructed using exposed wooden beams.
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| Cathedral with a 'kink' |
The local market is a foodie’s delight with crusty French
breads, untold varieties of cheeses, and lots of chocolate.
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| Too much good food!!! |
Faience, a ceramic/porcelain painting technique is still
being produced here, albeit the art is dying out slowly, as revenue from
artisan product is not sufficient to make a living. The artisans would have to
charge impossibly high prices for souvenir plates etc. if current labour rates
would be applied to the hours of work required to paint but a single little
plate.
Fashion – made in France – has its unique stylish French
appearance; even children’s clothing has certain je ne sais quoit flair to it. It
is outrageously expensive, but very chic of course. Well, the French rather buy
one smashingly designed piece of clothing instead of ten junky ones at a
cheaper price. Chic and elegance prevail; made in China can be purchased, but
there is no comparison in terms of style, design or quality. One dreams….
