Brest

Right at the tip of the rugged Breton peninsula, bite-sized Brest is the ideal destination if you want to get off the beaten track whilst absorbing a mega-dose of authentic French lifestyle. An important marine research centre and lively university town, Brest combines nautical jauntiness and savage natural beauty, with a certain avant garde trendiness (this pretty Brittany town was, after all, the backdrop for cult filmmaker Fassbinder’s 80’s art film Querelle). Add to that rugged, granite cliffs and isolated sandy coves; succulent seafood and traditional Celtic customs; charm-packed dining venues and a plethora of fun nightlife and you’re guaranteed that you won’t get bored in this upbeat Breton town.