Small Towns of Character in Brittany, France
France is full of beautiful small villages and towns with lots of character and this is why many of us love to travel through France, watch TV shows like the Tour de France where we explore the towns that otherwise we might never see, and look at stunning photo books.
In Brittany there is even an official association of beautiful towns, the Association of Petites Cités de Caractère (Small Towns of Character) which takes the promotion of these towns very seriously. The idea of the Association took hold in 1975, which was actually the Year of Architecture – how fitting!
Association of Petites Cités de Caractère
To qualify for inclusion in this Association the town must meet a strict criteria of being considered rural due to their small population, but at the same time urban because of their strong history and heritage. Their urban role however is understood to be less significant now due to the administrative and industrial revolutions that have taken place in France in more recent decades (remember we are talking about towns that date hundreds of years).
Many of the towns have blue signs declaring their inclusion to the Association on the outskirts of the town.
So how many towns are included in the Association of Petites Cités de Caractère? Currently there are 22 communities, of which they are divided into two groups – ‘approved’ and ‘potentially approved’. The towns are classified by the extent to which they protect, restore, promote and present their potential although they all have met the primary criteria of having urban origins, and heritage of the highest quality.
The Association is busy working with towns one at a time to highlight what makes them unique, while they also participate in activities as a whole group of towns, for example the “Art in the Towns” event.
Art in the Towns, Brittany, France
Art in the Towns is a really cool project in which all the towns collaborate by providing residences for foreign painters. This project spotlights the Brittany towns the painters are residing in back in their home countries of China, Russia, the Czech Republic, Japan, Africa and America. The flow of tourism into Brittany is an obvious benefit and the cultural status of the towns is being upheld in this modern era.
The 22 Petites Cités de Caractère
You will love the 22 small towns of character dotted through Brittany so follow along with me as I share a couple of villages per article in our Petites Cités de Caractère series. If you haven’t subscribed do that now, so you get all the articles about these interesting and pretty French town straight into your inbox. We will show you exactly where they are located, delve into a little history of the town and see what attractions are unique to them and why they hold the prestigious title of a Petites Cités de Caractère.
Having explored many of these towns myself I know how pretty they are and I promise you will love them all. You’ll find it hard to choose a favourite that’s for sure. Use this guide to plan your trip to France to tour around Brittany and immerse yourself in the history, architecture and beauty of these towns. Start planning the trip of your lifetime now!
Listed below are all the towns we’ll be exploring in the series: Bazouges-la-Pérouse, Bécherel, Châteaugiron, Châtelaudren, Combourg, Guémené-sur-Scorff, Guerlesquin, Josselin, Jugon-les-Lacs, La Roche-Bernard, La Roche-Derrien, Le Faou, Léon, Locronan, Malestroit, Moncontour-de-Bretagne, Pont-Croix, Pontrieux, Pont-Aven, Quintin, Rochefort-en-Terre, Roscoff and Tréguier.
Bécherel: Petite Cité de Caractère
Let’s get started and look at the first town we are featuring. Bécherel is a historic fortified town overlooking the upper valley of the River Rance which once played an important military role. The town has adapted from playing a military role, to being a centre of commerce and now being known as France’s foremost Book Town and the third major Book Town in Europe.
This well preserved architectural town enjoyed a reputation throughout the kingdom, as well as beyond the Channel and the Atlantic of having the finest linen thread in Brittany. The prosperous nature of this textile trade of hemp and spinning can be seen in the granite clad handsome homes of the nobles and merchants around the square where the old market halls stood.
What To Do In Bécherel
Walking around the square with its lavish houses such as the 15th century “Hostellerie de l’Ecu de Lavl” and the 16th century “Maison du Gouverneur” is a must. When you visit the rampart ruins and the old chateau you will be reminded how important this fortress town was during the Brittany War of Succession and just how much history one town can pack into its walls.
Bécherel – France’s No.1 Book Town
Exploring the bookshops with the work of calligraphers, bookbinders and illustrators, antiquarian booksellers, art galleries and bric-a-brac dealers is all part of the new Bécherel which has managed to transform itself, into an important world destination in the rarefied world of new and ancient books.
Being a lover of books and all things reading and stationery, Bécherel is one of my favourites out of the 22 small towns of Brittany. Find out more in our posts and see photos over on Instagram.
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