Brittany (
French Bretagne,
Breton Breizh) is a
peninsula in north-west
France, bordering the
English Channel on the north and the
Bay of Biscay on the south. It is an administrative
region of France, comprising four
départements:
Ille-et-Vilaine,
Côtes-d'Armor,
Finistère and
Morbihan.
The capital city of Brittany is Rennes.
The region was a part of
Armorica, and conquered by the
Romans. Around
500 AD, the area was settled by
Britons, driven from the
British Isles by the
Anglo-Saxons. These Britons gave the name to the region. (The name
Brittany means "Lesser Britain," by contrast with
Great Britain). In the early
Middle Ages, Brittany was divided into three kingdoms --
Domnonia[?],
Cornouaille[?], and
Bro Waroch[?] -- which eventually were incorporated into the
Duchy of Brittany[?]. A
Celtic language,
Breton, is still spoken in some parts of Brittany.
Brittany is famous for its megalithic monuments, which are scattered over the penninsula[?], notably near Carnac[?]. The purpose of these monuments is still unknown, and the local people refuse to entertain speculation on the subject.
A large part of the département Loire-Atlantique (including the city of Nantes) was historically part of Brittany, but is now part of the Pays de la Loire region.
A number of small separatist groups exist, fighting for the independence of Brittany.
