Brest is a city of about 141,000 people. It has had this population for the past fifty years, although it did have as many as 167,000 inhabitants in 1975. It is located in the Brittany region, at the far-Western tip of France.
Almost all of the buildings in Brest were utterly destroyed during World War II, although a church and a few other buildings from 250-300 years ago did survive. Thus, what you see now in Brest is more modern and contemporary.
From the Brest train station or the nearby regional airport (which is accessible from London), you can get a car hire to see various sights in and around Brest.
- The museum in the Tanguy Tower (one of the oldest buildings in Brest) has a collection of dioramas that show how Brest was like on the eve of World War II. Again, the city was almost completely destroyed during the war so it is one of the few pieces of evidence showing the history of the city.
- The Oceanopolis aquarium depicts not just one but three thematic shows (polar, tropical and temperate) of the world’s oceans. It is located in the Moulin Blanc port.
- It would not be France if there were not artwork. There is the Navy Museum exhibiting models, sculptures and paintings, and located in the castle (another one of the few old buildings that survived the Battle of Brest). In addition, there is an art gallery on Traverse Street.
- In 2008, the city was the starting point of the Tour de France. It could be again, or a stop during future Tours.
For those who love to travel, especially by renting a car, you can go to the nearby beaches. There, sunbathing, fishing, windsurfing and even yachting are enjoyable activities.
Because of its unique location and history, it is a large and varied port. It is regarded as the first French port accessible from the Americas. It is also the sight of ship building and construction. The Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier was built in the city of Brest.
After getting your car hire, you can drive throughout the Finistere department (county) and visit the very many villages that dot the landscape, very many of which have fewer than 2,000 people and see how life is like in these small enclaves. Here, you can enjoy the wonders of the universe by looking up to the stars at night, always a very enjoyable activity.
