Bravo, Brest!
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Brest: maritime museum
A recent visit to Brittany on location research led us to Brest – and its superb harbour. Although much of old Brest was lost during the Second World War, there are many reasons for the lover of all things salty to visit this second largest town in Brittany.
Top of the list has to be the Musee National de la Marine, housed in a 15th century fortress on the estuary. The view from the Keep out to the Gullet (where the British maintained blockade throughout the Napoleonic wars) is amazing.
And what a splendid celebration of ships and the sea the museum is! Kathy and I spent the best part of a whole day there. Of particular interest were the scale models of ship building and refit, which once belonged to the King of France.
Shipbuilding model
I’d also recommend checking out Oceanopolis, a huge complex with over 1000 species of sea creatures showcased in three pavilions – polar, temperate and tropical.
And by the way, the staff in the Brest tourism office are particularly helpful!
Julian Stockwin 