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Quimper, France

The cultural heart of Brittany, the charming small city of Quimper is a gateway into France’s most distinct region. On our Anglo French Tour: Normandy, Brittany and the Channel Islands, Day 8 brings local treats in Bénodet and then a city tour of Quimper, the ancient cathedral city of Cornouaille.

Small Group Tour

Anglo French Tour: Normandy, Brittany and the Channel Islands

22-Day Tour · Paris to London · Small group, up to 16 travellers, solo travellers welcome

Day 8 takes the group to the seaside town of Bénodet for some local treats, then on to the ancient cathedral city of Quimper for a city tour. On Day 9 there is a guided tour of the Carnac standing stones, and on Day 10 the walled Ville Close of Concarneau and a cruise across its bay.

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Inhabited since the Old Stone Age, Brittany is home to some of the world’s most ancient structures, with mysterious monuments dating back to the 5th millennium BCE. In (relatively) more recent times, Brittany was home to Celtic Gauls, the peoples of Armorica, during the first millennium BC, and was then conquered by Julius Caesar in 56 BC. Following the fall of the Romans, the region saw a further influx of Celts – driven from Britain by Anglo-Saxon invasions, establishing the region’s unique Celtic – rather than Frank (French) – identity.

The River Odet in Quimper, with the twin spires of the Cathedral of Saint-Corentin behind the quayside houses

The River Odet in Quimper, with the twin spires of the Cathedral of Saint-Corentin rising behind the quays.

In the 9th century, Brittany’s national hero Nominoë rebelled against Frankish rule, defeating Charles the Bald at the Battle of Ballon in 845. Brittany remained an independent Duchy until merging with the Kingdom of France in 1532, following a series of strategic royal weddings. Though now a part of France, Brittany remained culturally distinct, with the local language, the Celtic Breton, remaining the everyday language of most people in western Brittany into the 20th century. Under the Third Republic, French was forced upon the population of Brittany. Children were not allowed to speak Breton, and were punished if they did. Signs in schools are often said to have read: ‘It is forbidden to speak Breton and to spit on the floor.’

In the late 19th and early 20th century, the distinct language and culture of Brittany saw a revival thanks to the Celtic Revival, which saw Breton nationalists develop ties with similar movements in Ireland and Scotland. Brittany is counted as one of the ‘six Celtic nations’, and in the late 20th century Breton saw a revival thanks to the opening of bilingual schools. A 2024 regional survey estimated that about 107,000 people speak Breton, and many Bretons identify strongly with Brittany as well as with France.

Originally settled during Roman times, Quimper (from the Breton Kemper) is closely associated with the legendary 5th century King Gradlon of Cornouaille, a region named after the homeland of its settlers, Cornwall in Britain. Quimper was the capital of the countship of Cornouaille, which was united with the Duchy of Brittany in the 11th century, before passing, with the rest of the Duchy, to the Kingdom of France.

Quimper’s most impressive building is the magnificent Cathedral Saint Corentin, which is believed to be one of the finest examples of Gothic religious architecture in Brittany. Construction began in the 13th century, while the spires were only completed in 1856. Make sure to have a stroll around the quaint historic centre, with streets and squares lined with quaint half-timbered houses painted in a variety of colours. Head to the Place au Beurre, a pretty square surrounded by restaurants and cafes to enjoy a break in one of Quimper’s most beautiful locations. On the outskirts of the city is the Chateau de Lanniron, the former summer palace of the Bishops of Quimper, an elegant residence surrounded by magnificent gardens.

From the end of the 17th century, Quimper prospered thanks to its faïence pottery industry. The first factory in Quimper was founded in 1690 by Jean-Baptiste Bousquet, and the industry grew through the 18th and 19th centuries. Quimper now has a museum devoted to its pottery heritage, while the original factory is still open for you to pick up a souvenir.

Today, Quimper remains shaped by Breton culture. The streets are lined with crêperies, selling Brittany’s favourite snack. Make sure to sample savoury crepes, usually made with buckwheat, and sweet ones, made with plain wheat flour. Quimper is also home to the Musée départemental breton, which displays archaeological finds from around the area, and has an extensive collection of Breton costumes and furniture.

A woman in traditional Breton costume with a tall lace coiffe, standing by a harbour with fishing boats

A woman in traditional Breton costume, with the tall lace coiffe of the Pays Bigouden, south-west of Quimper.

For an authentic experience of Brittany at its most distinct, head to Quimper in summer for the most famous festival of Breton culture, the Festival de Cornouaille. For several days each year, the city comes alive to the sounds of traditional Celtic music and dance. Locals dress up in traditional Breton costume for the Great Sunday Parade, while visitors enjoy a warm welcome to France’s most fiercely independent region.

Around five and a half hours’ drive and three and a half hours by train from Paris, Quimper is an ideal launching point to explore the history and scenery of Brittany’s rugged Atlantic coast.

Seeing Quimper on our Anglo French Tour

On our Anglo French Tour: Normandy, Brittany and the Channel Islands, 22 days from Paris to London, Quimper comes in the Brittany days. On Day 7 the group tours Rennes and has free time in Vannes before travelling on to Fouesnant, in south Finistère. Day 8 begins with local treats in Bénodet before a city tour of Quimper. Day 9 brings a guided tour of the Carnac standing stones, and Day 10 a tour of Concarneau’s walled Ville Close and a cruise across the bay. It is a Level 2 (Moderate) tour for up to 16 travellers, led by an Odyssey Program Leader. Our day-by-day Normandy, Brittany and Channel Islands itinerary follows the whole route.