https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from France in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed If you're driving on French motorways you will be expected to pay a toll charge - unless you're in Brittany. Here's why: https://www.thelocal.fr/20260402/why-is-brittany-the-only-place-in-france-that-doesnt-have-motorway-tolls Thu, 02 Apr 2026 16:18:05 +0200 why-is-brittany-the-only-place-in-france-that-doesnt-have-motorway-tolls There are many reasons to visit the capital of the north-western French region of Brittany – here are just seven… https://www.thelocal.fr/20250703/discover-france-7-reasons-to-visit-rennes Thu, 03 Jul 2025 15:34:48 +0200 discover-france-7-reasons-to-visit-rennes We can all agree that France has a lot of stunning coastline, and when heading to western France you really are spoiled for choice - here Emma Pearson and Genevieve Manfield go head-to-head on the respective merits of Brittany and La Vendée. https://www.thelocal.fr/20221003/brittany-v-vendee-which-is-the-best-french-coastline Mon, 03 Oct 2022 14:10:14 +0200 brittany-v-vendee-which-is-the-best-french-coastline As part of The Local's new series on second-homes in France, here is everything you need to know (the good, the bad, and the ugly) about purchasing property in the north-west France regions of Brittany and Normandy, according to both readers and experts. https://www.thelocal.fr/20250520/orth-west Tue, 20 May 2025 11:10:54 +0200 orth-west The western French region of Brittany has seen the biggest tourism growth in France - so why are more and more people flocking there? https://www.thelocal.fr/20230712/french-holidays-why-more-and-more-tourists-are-flocking-to-brittany Wed, 12 Jul 2023 14:03:46 +0200 french-holidays-why-more-and-more-tourists-are-flocking-to-brittany The Local asked readers for their top tips for places to visit along the French coast and we were overwhelmed with suggestions for beautiful beaches, off-the-beaten-track villages and lively resorts. https://www.thelocal.fr/20221003/readers-reveal-the-best-beaches-and-coastal-resorts-in-france Mon, 03 Oct 2022 18:29:10 +0200 readers-reveal-the-best-beaches-and-coastal-resorts-in-france Mention to a French person that you're heading to Brittany and they're probably tell you to take an umbrella - but does the area deserve its reputation as the rain capital of France? https://www.thelocal.fr/20201104/french-clichs-does-it-really-rain-all-the-time-in-brittany Wed, 04 Nov 2020 13:29:31 +0100 french-clichs-does-it-really-rain-all-the-time-in-brittany The French city of Nantes is to hold a referendum on exiting the Pays-de-la-Loire region and becoming part of Brittany instead. https://www.thelocal.fr/20210208/french-town-of-nantes-votes-for-referendum-on-exiting-pays-de-la-loire-region Mon, 08 Feb 2021 10:03:00 +0100 french-town-of-nantes-votes-for-referendum-on-exiting-pays-de-la-loire-region More than 1,200 revellers were booked for breaking coronavirus restrictions as an illegal rave in northwestern France ended on Saturday after more than two days of partying that saw clashes with police. https://www.thelocal.fr/20210102/mass-rave-in-france-ends-after-police-fail-to-stop-it Sat, 02 Jan 2021 11:53:02 +0100 mass-rave-in-france-ends-after-police-fail-to-stop-it A campaign has been launched to fund another Statue of Liberty in France... this time destined for Brittany. https://www.thelocal.fr/20190702/campaign-launched-to-fund-new-statue-of-liberty-in-brittany Tue, 02 Jul 2019 18:01:48 +0200 campaign-launched-to-fund-new-statue-of-liberty-in-brittany Motorists in several parts of France continue to suffer from fuel shortages due to the ongoing 'yellow vest' blockades or petrol depots continue, with the Brittany region the hardest hit. https://www.thelocal.fr/20181205/fuel-shortages-leave-parts-of-france-dry-as-motorists-in-brittany-hit-the-hardest Wed, 05 Dec 2018 10:07:56 +0100 fuel-shortages-leave-parts-of-france-dry-as-motorists-in-brittany-hit-the-hardest The ongoing yellow vest protests have seen petrol stations in parts of Brittany suffering fuel shortages, leading to restrictions being imposed on the amount motorists are allowed to buy. https://www.thelocal.fr/20181203/petrol-shortages-hit-brittany-as-yellow-vests-block-fuel-depots Mon, 03 Dec 2018 12:28:14 +0100 petrol-shortages-hit-brittany-as-yellow-vests-block-fuel-depots One third of voters in the Loire-Atlantique department have signed a petition asking to become part of neighbouring Brittany. But will this actually happen? https://www.thelocal.fr/20181129/is-britanny-about-the-get-bigger Thu, 29 Nov 2018 13:50:33 +0100 is-britanny-about-the-get-bigger Japan stunned traditional whisky-makers by exploding onto the market and winning over connoisseurs of the tipple. Now, entrepreneurs in France -- a country better known for cognac -- are throwing themselves into the once exclusive world of whisky. https://www.thelocal.fr/20181125/a-wee-dram-sil-vous-plait-meet-frances-new-whisky-makers Sun, 25 Nov 2018 10:40:09 +0100 a-wee-dram-sil-vous-plait-meet-frances-new-whisky-makers A group of Breton nationalists has denounced the number of second homes in Brittany, launching a campaign against "real estate speculation" in the region popular with British holidaymakers and home owners. https://www.thelocal.fr/20180626/brittany-nationalists-declare-war-on-second-homes Tue, 26 Jun 2018 11:23:22 +0200 brittany-nationalists-declare-war-on-second-homes A demolition team called in to tear down an abandoned house in western France this week struck gold - literally. https://www.thelocal.fr/20180610/pot-of-gold-found-in-abandoned-french-house Sun, 10 Jun 2018 13:37:27 +0200 pot-of-gold-found-in-abandoned-french-house Brittany, the region of northwestern France, is renowned for its beaches, seagulls and delicious seafood - but one of the last things you'd associate with the area is local wine. https://www.thelocal.fr/20180410/move-over-bordeaux-climate-change-brings-back-brittany-wine Tue, 10 Apr 2018 18:39:41 +0200 move-over-bordeaux-climate-change-brings-back-brittany-wine Brittany, the stunning region on France's west coast has long attracted tourists and settlers alike. When you look at these stunning images by photographer Jennifer Hughes, who relocated to Brittany from the UK 13 years ago, you'll see why. https://www.thelocal.fr/20171023/24-pictures-that-will-make-you-want-to-move-to-brittany Mon, 23 Oct 2017 18:35:44 +0200 24-pictures-that-will-make-you-want-to-move-to-brittany Brittany in western France had an apocalyptic feel on Monday as the sky turned yellow and the air was filled with the smell of burning. https://www.thelocal.fr/20171016/brittany-apocalypse-huricane-orphelia-brings-yellow-sky-and-smell-of-fire Mon, 16 Oct 2017 17:52:24 +0200 brittany-apocalypse-huricane-orphelia-brings-yellow-sky-and-smell-of-fire Beachgoers in western France have been warned after potentially deadly Portuguese Man o' War were washed up on the shores of Brittany. https://www.thelocal.fr/20170919/deadly-sea-creatures-wash-up-on-brittanys-beaches Tue, 19 Sep 2017 17:18:41 +0200 deadly-sea-creatures-wash-up-on-brittanys-beaches