Visit Brittany, France, one of three ways: on a budget, spending a bit more, or when the getaway calls for a splurge.
Trip tips: The French Ministry of Culture designated eight cities in Brittany as national "cities of art and history" for their culture and beauty. A driving itinerary through these cities (Quimper, Auray, Vannes, Rennes, Fougères, Vitré, Dinan and Saint-Malo) is the best way to experience Brittany's rich cultural heritage; www.brittanytourism.com.
When dialing direct, use the prefix 011 followed by 33 (country code) + 2-99 or 2-97 (city codes) + phone number shown below.
Getting there: From Paris, rail travel is just over two hours to Rennes; three hours to Vannes; www.raileurope.com. Round-trip flights to Paris are $1,243 on departures through May 16 or Aug. 25-Oct. 24. Rates of $1,340 to Rennes are valid on departures through May 16 or $1,425 Aug. 25-Oct. 24 on Air France. No advance purchase notice required.
BUDGET
Stay: The intimate Hotel Le Nautilus is close to the beaches and situated inside the town's ancient walls. Rates from $88-$94 (68 euros-72 euros). 9 Rue de la Corne de Cerf, Saint-Malo. (33-2-99) 40-42-27, www.lenautilus.com.
Eat: Les Embrums is just a few steps from the sea and specializes in fresh shellfish, seafood, tenderloins and ducks, as well as homemade desserts. Prices for a three-course lunch menu (starter, main course and dessert; Tuesday-Saturday) at this tiny Mediterranean-style spot start from $19.50 (15 euros). 120 Chaussée du Sillon, Saint-Malo. (33-2-99) 56-33-57, www.restaurant-les-embruns.com.
Experience: Saint-Malo is a spectacular seaside resort on the English Channel and renowned for the cathedral of Saint Vincent and its soaring 14th-century ramparts. Get acquainted with the town with a narrated 30-minute ride aboard the tourist train, Le Vagabond; $8 (6 euros). (33-2-99) 40-49-49, www.lepetittrain-saintmalo.com. Walk atop the granite rampart walls and then along the historic cobbled streets. The restored Fort National, built in 1689 by the great military architect Vauban, can be reached on foot during low tide. A 35-minute guided tour highlights more than three centuries of military life; $6.50 (5 euros); www.fortnational.com.
MODERATE
Stay: Symphonie des Sens is set in a 16th-century building in the center of old town. The building is said to be the only one that survived a 1700s fire that destroyed most of the town. Elegantly decorated rooms, some with beamed ceiling and a private balcony, feature chandeliers and parquet floors. Rates, including Wi-Fi and breakfast, are $168 (129 euros); $230 (178 euros) for a suite. On site are a garden terrace and a lounge with a massive stone fireplace. 3 Rue du Chapitre, Rennes. (33-2-99) 79-30-30, www.symphoniedessens.com.
Eat: La Fontaine aux Perles is a chic oasis of greenery in the heart of Rennes. Enjoy a three-course gourmet lunch (25 euros; Tuesday-Saturday) or a three-course Pearl Crystal dinner menu (39 euros) — both menus honor Breton's culinary heritage. 96 Rue de la Poterie, Rennes. (33-2-99) 53-90-90, www.lafontaineauxperles.com.
Experience: Together with the towns of Dinan and Vannes, the historic center of Rennes features the oldest examples of timber-framed architecture from the 15th to the late 16th centuries. A three-day Metropole City Pass, $19.50 (15 euros), lets you discover the city and the surrounding area with discounts for bus and Metro transportation, admission to the Museum of Brittany, the Musee Des Beaux Arts (fine arts museum), and a choice of a guided city tour or a tour of the stately Parliament building; www.tourisme-rennes.com.
SPLURGE
Stay: Built in 1898, elegant La Maison de la Garenne is surrounded by an enclosed garden and faces the old town walls (12th-16th century). Within walking distance are numerous restaurants and the recently renovated marina. Rates range from $160-$188 (124 euros-144 euros) . 2 Rue Sébastien de Rosmadec, Vannes. (33-2-97) 67-00-31, www.maisondelagarenne.com.
Eat: Rive Gauche, a popular bistro, faces the harbor. You're likely to find white cod, prawns, red mullet, lobster, duck breast or roasted pigeon on the chalkboard menus. Entrees average $28.50 (22 euros). 5 Place Gambetta, Vannes. (33-2-97) 47-02-40.
Experience: Built in the shape of an amphitheater, medieval Vannes is a picturesque old city on Brittany's south coast with elegant shops, manicured gardens and traditional timbered houses. Drive 30 minutes to Carnac to see extraordinary megalithic monuments, pyramids, underground chambers and its famous giant standing stones that extend for miles and date to 3300 B.C., older than England's Stonehenge. Guided tours $8 (6 euros); www.carnac.monuments-nationaux.fr. From Vannes port, take a modern ferry to Belle-Ile, located 9 miles off the coast, $39 (30 euros); www.navix.fr. The island is known for its 60 beaches (best are Bordadoué and Grands Sables) and a center of lush valleys, meadows and whitewashed houses. Explore this 5-by-10-mile island by rental bicycles, mopeds, bus, donkey, horse or foot; www.belle-ile.com.
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