Brest

Since Roman times Brest has been the site of a fortress town due to its large natural harbour and its difficult access by land making it very easy to defend. However this fortified position worked against it during the second world war as Brest was destroyed by allied bombers in order to prevent it being used by the Germans. This does not mean that there is nothing of interest for the visitor as certain important sites have been carefully restored, the castle and the Tanguy tower for example. The heart of Brest is a good example of post war architecture and Brest retains a great deal of its charm. The town centre has a Fine Art Museum and the St Louis building has remarkable stained glass windows. The visitor may also wish to take in the sights of the commercial port and the Oceanopolis (a spectacular multi-level aquarium). The local tourist office organises tours of the town and museums and there are boat trips to many of the islands around the coast.