BRETAGNE - Geography and history
Brittany comprises four departments (Côtes-d?Armor, Finistère, llle-et-Vilaine and Morbihan) covering an area of 27 200 km2. Historically Brittany also included Loire-Atlantique, now part of the ?Pays de la Loire? region.
The Armorican massif, of which Brittany constitutes the western part, was shaped during the Hercynian episode, when the Aquitaine plate was compressed beneath the Armorican plate. Erosion transformed the massif into an uneven peneplain, whose highest points are nearly 400 m above sea level.
Much of the Brittany peninsula is bathed by the Gulf Stream and exposed to the prevailing west winds, giving the region a mild, humid climate.
The ancient formations based on schist and granite are rich in silica, and are therefore acidic and not very fertile. Beeches and oaks form the natural vegetation, but woodland has in most places given way to bocage, the characteristic countryside of northern France.
The impermeable soils and pronounced relief explain the large number of springs and streams. The rivers are for the most part difficult to navigate, except near the coasts.
An attractive region needing to develop its human resources
Brittany's natural and architectural beauty and its historical character make the region extremely attractive. This is one of the factors influencing investment decisions.
Although lacking in minerals, the region benefits from a dynamic agricultural sector and abundant marine resources.
The fact that Brittany is a peninsula is often considered a disadvantage. Although geographical remoteness can have its drawbacks, these have to be seen in context (Japan, for example, is much further away from its main markets). Moreover, Brittany is seeing a growing proportion of world trade pass through its coastal waters.
Indeed, the region's main asset is its human resources: few regions are better provided with educational establishments; perseverance and a spirit of enterprise are the inheritance of sailors and farmers. When they manage to overcome their local rivalries, Bretons display a considerable capacity for initiative, logistic organisation and collective action.
The strong character of Brittany is reflected not only in its folklore but also, and indeed above all, in its human and cultural dimension. Brittany's strong oral tradition has given rise to an abundance of myths and legends, which have been kept alive by the spirit of adventure of young Bretons.
Development concentrated in the south and east
Although located at the Western end of Europe, the area of Brittany is no longer isolated. The TGV links Rennes with Paris in two hours and Brest is within less than four and a half hours from the capital. The relationship with other French and European areas profits from the high speed network connection, from the development of air service and a good road network, reinforced by the completion of the motorway of the estuaries which connects the north of France to the Spanish border.
The urban infrastructure in Brittany rests on a network of medium-sized cities, practically all located on the seaside, with the notable exception of the regional capital. Rennes is the centre of an urban area of more than 520 000 inhabitants. Its demographic dynamism puts it in third position amongst the large French urban areas, behind Montpellier and Toulouse.
Brest, the second city of Brittany, is the centre of an urban area of 300 000 inhabitants. The centre of the region is occupied by a vast rural area, without larger cities.
Traditionally, broad distinctions are made between Armor and Arcoat ('the land of the sea' and 'the land of the forest') and between east and west Brittany (i.e. the French and Breton speaking parts of the region).
The population drift from the land and increasing industrialisation have recently altered the region's demographic and employment patterns. Central Brittany, a rural area with no important towns and benefiting little from the road-building programme, is experiencing a population exodus, which is threatening to devitalise the area. Economic development has favoured the south eastern half of the region, particularly around Rennes and Vannes, where industrial and services sectors employment is concentrated.
The coastal employment centres have had varying fortunes: the growth in the northwest, from Lannion to Brest, lags behind the regional average; the tourist parts of the region (Auray and Saint-Malo) are experiencing satisfactory growth, while the south-west, from Lorient to Quimper, occupies an intermediate position.
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