Page 38 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Brittany

36  INTRODUCING BRIT T AN Y

Average Rainfall Rainfall
The most elevated
Mm Inches regions of Brittany
120 4.5 receive up to
100 3.75 1,200 mm (47 in)
of rain, which falls over
80 3 an average of 200 days
per year, while the
60 2.25
plateaux of Lower
40 1.5 Brittany receive 800
mm (31 in) of rainfall
20 0.75 per year. The heaviest
0 0 rainfall occurs in
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec autumn and winter.
performers of tra ditional Fête du Marron (end of Oct),
Autumn Breton music gather at the Redon, Ille­et­Vilaine. The
Those of a romantic disposi­ Domaine de Tronjoly to take town hosts a chestnut
tion who love open spaces will part in marching, music and festival with a traditional
find this season particu larly dancing competi tions; these fair, chestnut tastings and,
appealing. There are still many are held in two categories: kozh most promi nently, the
fine days. The equinox on (with Breton pipes and bomb­ largest fest-noz in Brittany.
21/22 September marks the ards) and bras (with Scottish The Bogue d’Or, a musical
beginning of the great autumn bagpipes and bombards). contest in which the best
tides, when large expanses A fest-noz also takes place. traditional Breton musicians
of the seabed are exposed. compete, takes place in the
Rapidly changing weather October morning. In the evening,
and the dramatic ebb and Festival du Film the winners give a
flow of the sea also make for a Britannique (early Oct), performance, along with
landscape whose appearance Dinard, Ille­et­Vilaine. The other traditional Breton
alters by the hour. Inland, the British film industry’s producers music groups.
leaves on the trees start to and distributors come here Quai des Bulles (mid-Oct),
turn, catching the sunlight to promote British cinema St­Malo, Ille­et­Vilaine.
between scudding clouds. in France. The event attracts An annual gathering
As tourists become fewer, around 15,000 people. attended by around 400
Bretons return to their daily Festival de Lanvallec (second strip­cartoonists and
lives, anticipating winter. half of Oct), in the Trégor, animated cartoon producers,
Côtes d’Armor. The leading together with a following
September exponents of Baroque music of enthu siasts. Showings of
Championnat de Bretagne de perform in various churches cartoon films and exhibitions
Musique et Danse Traditionelle in the region, particularly in also form part of the event.
(first weekend in Sep), Gourin, Lanvallec, which has one of In the year 2000, when the
southern Finistère. The finest the oldest organs in Brittany. festival marked its 20th year,
the world’s leading cartoon
ists and animators attended.
November
Festival des Chanteurs
de Rue et Foire St-Martin
(early Nov), Quintin,
Côtes d’Armor. Since 1993,
the St Martin’s Fair, which
dates back to the 15th
century, has been held at
the same time as this festival
of street singers. Hawkers,
entertainers and comedians
re­enact historical scenes of
daily life and singers perform
time­honoured songs, with the
audience joining in the chorus.
Traditional Breton food is also
on offer, such as crêpes and
A signing session during the Quai des Bulles in St-Malo moules marinière.

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