Ille et Vilaine

Ille-et-Vilaine lies in the eastern part of Brittany bordering Normandy. From Dinard to Mont-Saint-Michel, the coastline is a breath-taking stretch of white sand beaches and sparkling emerald waters, taking us back to the Belle Epoque and swashbuckling tales of the corsairs of Saint Malo.

Further inland, Rennes is a city of culture, a capital of art and history, and Redon is nothing short of an architectural chef-d'oeuvre. Thoughout these mystical lands, be wary of the Mélusine pixie in Fougères and of Morgane and Viviane, the faeries of Brocéliande Forest. And know that the leprechaun-esque korrigans are everywhere, waiting to cast their charms on unsuspecting travellers.

The Celtic area was occupied by the Romans from 58 BC until the 5th century AD when the Bretons, coming from what is now Great Britain, claimed the land.

In 1213, the Bretons were ruled by a Capetian and thus eluded Plantagenet domination. The entire duchy was run by descendants of Pierre I of Dreux until the War of Succession, won by Jean de Montfort (later Duke Jean IV).

Brittany became a French region in 1491 when Anne, the daughter of François II, married Charles VIII. This alliance was further strengthened when Claude of France, born from Anne’s second marriage, offered Brittany as her dowry when she married François I, future King of France, in 1514. The houses of parliament were built in Rennes in 1553, transformig the city into a major administrative centre.

The department’s economy began to flourish during the 19th century after the opening of the Ille-et-Rance canal in 1838 and the inauguration of the Paris-Rennes railway line. The first seaside resorts were built at this time.

The Ille-et-Vilaine département was almost renamed twice in the last three decades but both propositions (Marches de Bretagne and Haute Bretagne) were rejected.

The area's numerous music festivals seem to reflect a rich heritage of aural tradition - additionally, they reflect the Breton's natural penchant for a rollicking good time…

Saint Malo, home to the Route du Rock festival, perpetuates the age-old legends of the King's corsairs. Dinard on the other hand seems more concerned with the anglo-saxon world.

Once in a while there are small concerts during which one can experience traditional music - the "Biniou-koz" or the bombard are unique local instruments that you don't see every day.

A direct, one-way tickets into Celtic history.

When it comes to seafood, local restaurants are literally brimming with sole from the Channel, ray and wild sea bass, shellfish and crab...

Roast "coucou" chicken from Rennes or lamb from the Mont-Saint-Michel bay's salt meadows, with a side of local beans and potatoes... This is the ideal traditional meal.

Rennes produces some excellent varieties of melon, while in Redon they have choice horse-chesnuts. Crêpes and buckwheat "galettes" are a local specialty, and certain pastries are equally delectable - the parlementin which is an apple and nougatine cake, the craquelin, and the praline-flavoured potato.

Cider, local apple brandy (pommeau de Bretagne), cervoise and Saint-Colombe beer will all add a little warmth to your meal while Fine Bretagne (an eau-de-vie similar to Calvados) is a perfect way to end dessert.