Brittany, the westernmost region of France, juts into the Atlantic like a giant peninsula, surrounded by 750 miles of dramatic coastline. Hundreds of bays, inlets, and islands shelter the fishing boats that have sustained Bretons for millennia.

The earliest people of Brittany erected dolmens and menhirs dating to 3500 BC. They were followed by the first identifiable inhabitants, the Celts. Conquered by Caesar in 56 BC, the region was named Armorica after the Celtic word for "seaside," a label that lives on today in the department Côtes-d'Armor. Following the fall of the Roman Empire, additional Celts from Britain migrated across the channel, giving Brittany its present-day name.

Mont Saint-Michel may be Brittany's best-known attraction. Surrounded by the most powerful tides in Europe, perched high on a rocky island, this medieval city and its abbey are a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site.

An unforgettable experience awaits in the Gulf of Morbihan, on the southern shore. Dotted with dozens of tiny islands, this beautiful bay shelters the Ile aux Moines, where you can ride a bicycle through palm groves, mimosa, and fairy-tale woods. Inland is the medieval forest of Merlin the Magician, where the Knights of the Round Table searched for the Holy Grail.

With so much coastline, many leisure activities are focused on the water: sailing, surfing, canoeing, rowing, and sand yachting. For history fans, there are megaliths, château, museums, and medieval towns, while gourmands will enjoy Breton cuisine, known for its legendary seafood, artichokes, lamb, and crêpes.