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Economy
Oyster farms, Cancale
Photo © CRTB
- Erich Spiegelhalter | | Overview:
See statistics, finance &
trade info..»
- Brittany is a small, agricultural based economy
which is undertaking attempts of economic diversification.
- Traditionally
one of the poorest regions of France, Brittany has been enjoying higher average
growth than France since the 1980's.
- Brittany's French-leading agriculture
and fishing industries remain key sector of the Breton economy.
- Exports
have been growing on a 6% average since 1995, totalling EUR 10 billion in 2000.
- Thanks to their highly skilled workforce, Brittany is attracting investment
and companies from the IT and electronics sector.
- Brittany's tourism industry
benefits from a strategic geographical location, excellent sea and land infrastructures,
warm weather and French savoir-vivre. Over 3.5 million tourists spend their
holiday in Brittany every year (40% of which come from the Britain and Ireland),
making Brittany, France’s 4th main tourist destination.
GDP purchasing
power parity: approx. € 56.6 billion (2000).
GDP real growth rate:
Not Available
GDP per capita: purchasing power parity - approx. €
19,345 (2000).
Population below poverty line: Not Available.
Labour
force: Not Available.
Labour force - occupation by sectors: agriculture
8%, industry 18%, services 74%.
Unemployment rate: 7.7% (2002).
Budget: Not Available.
Currency: Euro (EUR).
Industries:
Food products, cars, electronics, telecommunications, manufacturing, tourism.
Main airports: Rennes, Brest, Lorient.
Main ports: Brest, Lorient,
Saint-Malo.
Historical background
Menhirs of Monteneuf
Photo © CRTB
- Anatoly Bobrovitch | | -
Megalithic culture in Brittany ca. 4500-1500 BC. Stone constructions characteristic
of Brittany's landscape and heritage.
- Bronze Age and trade in the
European Atlantic, 1500-700 BC.
- Celtic tribes expand along continental
western Europe, 900-500 BC.
- Roman empire conquers Armorica (today's
Brittany) in 56 BC.
- Christianity spreads in Armorica ca. 350 AD,
blending with native beliefs and greatly influencing Breton society to this day.
- Fall of the Roman empire ca. 410 AD.
- Germanic invasions: Angles
and Saxons invade Britannia from 500 AD. Celtic refugees (known as Britons) move
to Armorica escaping from the invasions. The arrival of Britons is so large that
Armorica becomes Brittany.
- Gaul is taken over by Germanic tribes of Franks.
Brittany becomes in 841 AD a unified kingdom.
- Viking age: Scandinavians
and Normans raid Brittany between the 9th and 10th centuries.
- Duchy of
Brittany: Between 841-1514 Brittany becomes a sovereign Duchy composed of
a Breton speaking population in the west and a Gallo speaking population in the
east. Brittany begins to enter under the influence of France after the Succession
War of 1341-1364.
- French rule: Treaty of Union of France and the
Duchy of Brittany in 1532. Political power is transfered to Paris. Breton economy
and commerce constrained due to continuous French wars in Europe. Disappearance
of the Breton nobility and bourgeoisie social classes. Parliament of Brittany
abolished in 1790. French Republic forbids church services and preaching in Breton
language in 1902. Economic underdevelopment of Brittany, 19-20th century, many
Bretons emigrate to other parts of France.
- Breton renaissance, 19th
century: Breton intellectuals advocate the right of the Breton people to express
their culture. Celtic idiosincracy is considered the cornerstone of Breton identity.
Cultural and political organisations are created. Pan-Celtic links are established.
- World Wars: Over 329,000 Bretons die in World War 1, 1914-1918. Brittany
is occupied by Nazi Germany during World War 2, 1939-1945.
- Detachment of
Nantes, 1956: south east Brittany and the city of Nantes detached from Brittany
and pasted on to the Loire region. Campaigning over the re-integration of Nantes
in Brittany still alive today.
- European Union: As a part of France,
Brittany becomes a territory of the EEC - EU in 1957.
- Political activism:
Political parties, cultural organisations and other pressure groups re-emerge
from the 1960's demanding devolution of sovereignty on Breton affairs to the Breton
people.
- Political devolution: In 1982 France decentralised part of
the state apparatus and Brittany obtained a limited autonomy over regional economy,
infrastructure, environment, education and culture. More
info..»
Tourism and Culture
Pardon des Chevaux, Goudelin
Photo © CRTB
- A. Schmitt | | -
Tourist information and literature..»
-
Brittany's capital city, Rennes, conserves a rich medieval heritage.
- Head
to the west for a taste of the strong Breton cultural identity and maritime heritage.
- Finistère, the Land's End. Visit Cape St Mathieu, where the saint arrived
on a ship made of stone. Cliffs, ruins and inspiring landscape.
- The city
of Brest is an important French military base and is the largest population centre
of western Brittany.
- The Pardon is a typical Breton festival with
a local pilgrimage and traditional folklore dances.
- The Fest-Noz
is a typical Breton night out for group folklore dancing and Breton music.
- The largest pan-Celtic festival is celebrated in the city of Lorient every summer.
Lorient is an important French military base and is the largest population centre
of southern Brittany.
- Soak up the sunshine, good wine and seafood in the
busy tourist resorts of southern Brittany.
- Sail around the Glénan
archipelago and its paradise islands.
- Northern Brittany has less busy, pink-granite
landscape tourist resorts, connected by ferry to England.
- The Crèpe
(pancake) is Brittany's national plate and its most famous cultural export. You
can find a Creperie (pancake restaurant) virtually anywhere.
- Off
the track to central Brittany and the Arrée hills, one of the least developed
parts of Brittany. A navigable canal crosses central Brittany from Brest to Nantes,
ideal to be explored by boat or by bike.
- Brittany is famous for its megalithic
monuments and particularly for Carnac, the highest concentration of standing stones
and funeral chambers in Atlantic Europe. | |
