Brittany

Brittany (Bretagne in French), otherwise known as the Armorican peninsula, is the most westerly region of France, reaching into the Atlantic Ocean between the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay.

Geography

The Armorican peninsula has rocky coasts to the north and south, visually striking in places, but attains no great heights inland, the Monts d'Arrée reaching only 385 metres. The coastline to the west holds the naval port of Brest. In the north is the ferry port of Roscoff.

Pre-history

There are traces of human activity as early as the Lower Palaeolithic era. Much later, the adaptation to new conditions as glaciation retreated and forests took over inland, meant that in Neolithic times, settlement tended to be along the coast. Brittany is particularly noted for its megalithic remains: menhirs both solitary and in long rows, and tombs of various types, including Barnenez on the north coast, the largest cairn in Europe, constructed in two phases hundreds of years apart. During the megalithic period, there was extensive trade with other parts of Europe, but the peninsula seems to have lagged behind other regions in the developing use of metals. A degree of celticisation (how much is uncertain) followed.

A significant westerly point, the isle of Ouessant (anglicised as Ushant) was known by repute to early Mediterranean geographers, showing that to some extent there was trade along the coasts.

History

Historical records begin with Julius Caesar's conquest of Gaul. In central Brittany, near Huelgoat, there are the remains of a settlement corresponding to his description of an oppidum, or fortified settlement. His account of the conquest shows a combination of ruthless extirpation of the ruling class, conciliation and romanisation. Several uprisings had to be put down before Armorica was finally integrated into the Roman empire.

With the collapse of the Empire in the West, many Britons fled to Armorica, giving it its name and language.