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French Connections

The market in this charming town is nestled in a natural harbour in Brittany. The market features chalets selling Christmas wares.

About the Market

Christmas in Brest starts with its little Christmas market set around some 47 chalets with various local products selected by the tradesmen federation. Children can count on lots of entertainment including a small train with Santa Clause. Mulled wine and traditional food is also served to visitors.

More About Brest

Set in a magnificent natural harbour, known as the Rade de Brest, the city of Brest is doubly sheltered from ocean storms by the Leon and Crozon peninsula. Today it is the base of the French Atlantic Fleet. It has always played an important role in war, and in trade.

The town was rebuilt in the 1950s after being bombed and there are only a few sights remaining, however, there is plenty of Breton hospitality, beer and food to be enjoyed.

The 15th C. castle looks impressive on its cliff and offers superb panorama of the city. Three of its towers house part of the collection of the Musée National de la Marine. The history of this modern town is also well evoked in the 14th C. Tour Tanguy, on the opposite bank of the River Penfeld, which houses a Musée de Vieux Brest (history museum of Brest) before 1939.

Brest’s most recent attraction is Océanopolis, a few kilometres east of the city centre beside the Port de Plaisance du Moulin-Blanc. This futuristic complex popular with families currently consists of 3 aquariums with varied sea life and a 3-D cinema.

The bridge over the Elorn linking Brest and Plougastel Daoulas is a good viewpoint.

Eating

As well as a concentration of low-priced places near the station, Brest offers a wide assortment of restaurants. Rue Jean-Jaures holds plenty of bistros and bars. Restaurants in Brest have a wide variety of seafood. Fresh fish is featured on practically every menu and you can even find a few fish-only restaurants.

Brittany's most famous local delicacy, the Breton crêpe, is another culinary feature. There are many crêpe restaurants (called crêperies) and Breton cider may also be drunk.

Traditional biscuits include Traou Mad which is a full fat butter biscuit, somewhat similar to Scottish shortbreads.

Accommodation in Brest

Accommodation in central Brest gets booked fast during the Christmas market period, so search for a charming rural self catering accommodation near Brest, as during the winter months many holiday property owners allow short stays.

Transport quick facts about the markets:

Free Parking: No
Pay Parking: Yes
Coach Parking: Yes
Nearest Bus Route: all bus routes go via the market
Nearest Railway Station: 3 minute walk from the market
Nearest Tram Stop: n/a
Nearest Tube Station: n/a
Nearest Airport: Guipavas, 9km northeast of the centre of Brest
Nearest Ferry Port: Roscoff (see our route planner for driving directions)

Getting there

Suggested Travel Routes

Choosing to travel by train to France is a simple option. It’s fast and cost effective and also allows you to enjoy the beautiful French countryside. With a great rail network in place, it has never been easier to get to France by train. Book Eurostar and TGV tickets

As a foot passenger from the UK to Brest:

By Train: you can take Eurostar direct from St Pancras International in London to Paris, in under 2 ½ hours. Connections can also be picked up from Ashford or Ebbsfleet. TGV high-speed trains leave from Paris (gare Montparnasse) to Brest, taking about 4 hours, 20 minutes. Book Eurostar and TGV tickets

By Plane: Brest has its own international airport at Guipavas, but holidaymakers can also fly to Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports that provide nine daily flights to Brest with the travelling time of one hour. Shuttle bus and taxi services are plentiful at the airport to take you to Brest. Brest can be reached from the Airport at Guipavas by taxi or a car rental available from the airport. Book cheap flights to France.

Taking your car from the UK to Brest:

By Train: take your car on Eurotunnel from Folkestone, Kent direct to Calais in France. Journey time is about 35 minutes and the cost varies but is around £55 day trip return for a car and 5 passengers.

By Boat: It is usually cheaper to take a car over to France by boat, because the journey takes longer. Operators offer regular ferry trips across the channel, with prices ranging from around £30 for a return day trip.

Brest is 600kms from Paris. By car, take the A10 from Paris, then the A11 until Vitré, when it becomes the N12. Alternatively, take the N165 from Nantes; the distance is about 300kms. The nearest ferry port to Brest is Roscoff, which receives several crossings daily from Plymouth. Journey takes about 6 hours. Book a ferry to France

The drive from Roscoff to Brest is just over 63km and takes one hour.

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