Previously known as Armorica, lasting settlements in Brittany date from the Roman times but there is bountiful evidence of much more ancient peoples in the numerous menhirs and dolmens. In later centuries there was immigration from Wales, Cornwall and Devon which came not as an invading force, but as seafarers looking for somewhere to settle. Even in the Middle Ages, church art still showed strong links between ‘Little Britain’ and the south western regions of what used to be its mother-country as we shall see on our tour. Some of this art is in remarkable condition with colours as vibrant as when they were first made
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It is a vast area, but the very word ‘Brittany’ conjures up ideas of myth, mystery and magic, of fierce fighting and popular piety. All these things will be explored in this tour which will concentrate on the northern part of the province. Most Medieval history survives in the form of churches, but Brittany is also blessed with numerous castles and forts, defending its people from inland threats from bordering duchies and pirates from the sea. It quickly becomes evident that the Bretons saw themselves as a frontier people. That said, they also enjoyed their religion as we see from frescos and glass of remarkable quality and quantity, from gaudily ornate altarpieces and astonishing Parish Enclosures, peculiar to north-western Brittany.

We will learn about the general history of the Middle Ages along our route, as well as about individuals who lived at the time such as Anne, Duchess of Brittany and the famous knight, Bertrand du Guesclin who so much wanted to be buried in Dinan but, in the end, only his heart was brought there. Many towns have their Medieval Quarters still in good condition, so we will be able to look at the buildings that were part of Medieval everyday life as well as try to understand the horror of the plague years that have left their mark on churches such as Kermaria.

ITINERARY
Day 1 (Saturday): Depart London Victoria Coach Station at 08:45 and cross the Channel by le Shuttle. Drive to Caen for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Fougères’ magnificent fortress castle and a chance to look at the church of Saint-Sulpice. Lunch break in Fougères and then we go to the tiny village of Les Iffs where the church houses some of the best fifteenth and sixteenth-century glass in Europe. After that we travel north to Fort La Latte, a fort on the coast. To our hotel in Saint-Brieuc for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: We visit the ruined round church at Lanleff, often said to have been built by the Templars (although there is no evidence that they were ever in Lanleff) before seeing the jewel of the day in the form of the Danse Macabre at the church of Itron Varia an Iskuit, Kermaria. We move to Tréguier for a lunch break close to the cathedral and then on to the ruined castle at Tonquédec. Time permitting, we will go to Cairn Bernenez near Plouézoc’h, the biggest Neolithic passage grave in Europe. Then to our hotel in Morlaix for dinner and two nights.
Day 4: Our first stop is the superb church at Pleyben, our introduction to a Parish Enclosure. From there we go to the Medieval port of Concarneau where we can visit the Museum of Fishing and learn how to catch a Medieval whale and also to take a lunch break. We return via Lampaul-Gwimiliau and neighbouring Gwimiliau, both extraordinary examples of church art and Enclosure, showing a great variety and vigour in carving and colour – not to be missed! We go back to our Morlaix hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: We have to start heading eastwards, so our first stop is at Chatelaudren to see the spectacular painted ceiling before arriving at Dinan for a lunch break. After lunch there will be a walking tour of the Medieval town that will last about two hours, although you can drop out if one of the numerous cafés take your eye and you prefer to sit and gaze. We then start our journey home and so will be heading for our hotel at Avranches for dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Drive north to take le Shuttle across the Channel. Arrive Folkestone 18:45 and London 20:30.