Page 259 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Brittany

PR A C TIC AL INFORM A TION  257

(usually Monday). In winter, In villages, locals may greet
many attractions are open only you in the street or in shops
at weekends, or they are closed even if they have never seen
altogether except for a few days you before.
around Christmas. Many sights Smoking is forbidden on public
close on major public holidays transport and in all enclosed
(Christmas, New Year). public places, including bars,
Shops are usually open 9am– restaurants, cafés and museums,
noon and 3–7pm Monday to although you may find yourself
Saturday. Traditionally the only surrounded by smokers at
shops open on Sundays are pavement and terrace tables.
bakers and patisseries, but this
is becoming more flexible. Local
markets generally have one set Travellers with
Special Needs
day a week and operate
between 8am and noon. Disabled people should have
Visitors enjoying a stroll through the streets no major problems travelling
of a Breton village around France. For drivers, there
Language are disabled parking spaces in
Admission Prices
French is the main language in many streets and all public car
For public museums and historic Brittany, and travellers will have parks, which you can use for
monuments, entry fees generally a much better experience if free with a European Blue
range from around €3 to €8. they make an effort to speak it, Badge. SNCF (the French
Entry is free for small children particularly in basic courtesies railways) provides the Accès Plus
and often for under-18s such as greetings. For some scheme, which allows people
(sometimes under-12s), and useful expressions, see the with mobility issues to book a
there are reduced prices for phrase book on pp287-8. space and free assistance on and
those aged 18–25; ID may be In 1900, around 90 per cent off the train. Some radio-taxi
required. Privately owned houses of people in western Brittany firms have specially adapted
may be a little more expensive. spoke Breton, a Celtic language cabs (taxis aménagés).
All EU residents under 26 get free similar to Cornish. Today Breton Architecture and location
entry to state museums. can be seen in western Brittany might make access difficult
Several areas offer multi-entry in place names and beneath at many historic houses and
schemes giving discounted or French on bilingual road signs, chateaux. The blue Tourisme
unlimited entry at nearby sights, but rarely heard outside small & Handicap label is used to
such as the Pass des Mégalithes villages and folk festivals. indicate attractions, hotels and
for the prehistoric sites around restaurants that meet full access
Carnac, or the Pass’Quimper Etiquette and Smoking criteria. Many hotels and B&Bs
and Pass Nantes for those cities’ (chambres-d’hôtes) have specially
attractions. The Nantes pass You are expected to say Bonjour adapted rooms, and major
includes free public transport Monsieur/Madame when booking agencies indicate this
around the city and bike hire. entering a shop, museum or on their websites. The national
anywhere with an attendant, tourist office’s website has links
especially before asking a to the Tourisme & Handicap
Opening Hours question, and Merci, au revoir scheme and other useful
Most municipal museums are when you leave. Shake hands information on accessibility.
closed on Mondays, and most when introduced to someone, The Association des Paralysés
national museums and sights or any time a hand is proffered. de France is also helpful.
on Tuesdays. Larger museums
are usually open throughout
the day, and many have a
late-opening day each week
(often on a Thursday); smaller
museums often close at lunch-
time. Churches are open daily,
but they shut at lunchtime.
Opening hours of private
museums and chateaux may
vary considerably.
Opening days also vary by
season. In July and August,
most sites are open daily, while
in spring and autumn they
tend to close one day a week Relaxing at the outdoor tables of a Breton restaurant

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