Our favourite places to visit during your trip to France

France is full of beautiful places to explore and discover during your stay. These are a few of our favourite spots for you to visit during your next trip

Saint-Malo

You don’t need travel far from the ferry port to find a beautiful place to explore. Intra-Muros, the ancient walled town, forms the heart of Saint-Malo where the stunning Cathédrale de Saint-Malo dominates the skyline. Why not take a walk along the ramparts to see spectacular views of the town and harbour, including the islands and forts scattered just out at sea. The pretty islands of Grand Bé and Petit Bé can even be visited on foot at low tide. If you enjoy hiking, the GR34 coastal path travels right around the Emerald Coast and extends across most of Brittany’s coastline from Mont-Saint-Michel to Le Tour-du-Parc in Morbihan.

Where to stay: To explore Saint-Malo, why not stay in a lovely apartment in neighbouring Dinard, a stylish town with gorgeous sandy beach just 20 minutes’ drive from Saint-Malo.

Honfleur

A trip to Normandy wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the beautiful seaside town of Honfleur. Honfleur is immediately recognisable because of its tall narrow buildings and brightly coloured quayside. Over the years Honfleur has been inspiration for many famous artists, writers and musicians, including Monet, and there are many local museums celebrating the rich heritage of the area. The town has been awarded one of the top prizes in the French ‘Towns and Villages in Bloom’ (‘Villes et Villages Fleuris’) competition and we think it’s the perfect place to sit in one of the quayside cafes with a coffee and just watch the world go by.

Where to stay: To visit Honfleur, we suggest this lovely cottage in three acres of gardens on a complex in rural Normandy. The gîte is close to the banks of the River Seine and within easy reach of the ferry port at Le Havre.

Île de Groix

With these crystal blue waters you could be anywhere in the world, but this is one of the beautiful, almost tropical, beaches in southern Brittany. Take a trip to Île de Groix, Brittany’s second largest island, once an important centre for tuna fishing but now renowned for its lovely beaches and important concentration of minerals including the rare greenish blue glaucophane. The best way to see Groix is by foot or on two wheels and bicycles can be hired on the island for exploring. There are more than 25 miles of cycle paths here that will take you over moorland, past ancient megalithic rocks and the soaring cliffs to hidden coves and beautiful sandy beaches.

Where to stay: This recently renovated Breton house is perfect for families with 4 double bedrooms, a large garden and fabulous shared pool. The property is just 10 minutes from Lorient where you can catch the ferry over to Île de Groix.

When you book your holiday let with Holiday France Direct you can benefit from a fabulous 20% off car and passenger fares with Brittany Ferries. With nine routes to France and Spain, we hope there’s one that suits you. The full range of properties can be found by visiting: www.holidayfrancedirect.co.uk