Unless you live under a rock somewhere, you know that Le Tour de France begins tomorrow in the fabled cycling city of Brest. While there will be no shortage of race coverage elsewhere, Urban Velo will celebrate the world’s largest sporting event by highlighting some of the great cities the tour visits.
Brest is best known in the cycling world as the halfway point in the fabled 1200km Paris-Brest-Paris randonnée, which started in 1901. The city is an important French seaport and has been the site of numerous wartime struggles. In fact, nearly every building in Brest was destroyed by the end of WWII. Thankfully a few ancient structures still stand as tourist attractions, and the city remains a popular destination for fans of food, soccer, sunbathing and (of course) cycling.
Among the most popular tourist attractions in the Brittany region is cycling along the Canal de Nantes à Brest, a 360km route which links Brest to Nantes. Le Tour arrives in Nantes on July 7th. The ancient Gallic city has been called “the most livable city in Europe” as well as the “greenest city in France.” Just don’t let anyone talk you into a “Republican marriage” if you visit.
should that be the ancient gallic city or the ancient gaelic city?
Gallic refers to France. Gaelic would refer to Ireland.
Both are sort of correct since the historically Bretagne culture is more celtic than gallic with close ties to Ireland, Cornwall and Wales!
I’m sure if a Frenchy doesn’t win, they will find a way to eliminate them all down the line until they get to one.
heh, yea, I was kind of joking and asking a question at the same time.
I know that brittany is considered one the 5 celtic nations (along with ireland, scotland, wales and the isle of man) but I’m not sure about the specific history of brest.
I wasn’t trying to be pedantic! honest!