- Duration
- 1 hour
- Product Type
- Lecture
Lecture Details
Photos & Highlights
- Led by the same world-class experts as our walking tours, Context Lectures are great to inspire your future travels, or the perfect accompaniment to learn about the destination of your upcoming trip.
Lecture Description
As one of France’s most historic and picturesque regions, Brittany has more than its fair share of quaint towns and pretty villages. Nestled in the rolling French countryside, Brittany’s magical places offer an escape from the modern world; their ancient houses, winding streets, and imposing churches witness to centuries of fascinating history. Discover fairytale castles, holy wells, and curious natural rock formations and learn about some distinctive (and rather pungent!) local delicacies as we take a virtual tour around these enchanting corners of rural France.
Meet Your Expert
Alan was born and raised in Scotland but has spent most of his adult life in London. Having achieved an MA in Art History at Glasgow University, he worked for many years in the art world at both an international auction house and an antique dealer. He then returned to academia, achieving an MA in Classical Civilisation in 2011, and later completed a Ph.D. in which he analyzed eighteenth-century attitudes towards the ancient Roman world. Elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland in 2017, he published his first book 'Classical Caledonia' in 2020. His latest book, 'Walking the Antonine Wall', recounts his journey on foot along a Roman frontier in Scotland.
This lecture will feature some of Brittany’s finest villages, several of them designated as Petites Cités de Caractère (Small Towns of Character) due to their unique atmosphere and excellent state of preservation. With its medieval church covered with unusual carvings and its colorful half-timbered houses, the village of Malestroit recently celebrated its 1000th birthday. Not far away can be found Rochefort-en-Terre, which was voted ‘France’s Favourite Village’ in 2016 and is praised for its colorful flower displays and Christmas lights. Josselin is best known for the soaring towers of its striking castle, its interiors decorated in lavish style. To the north, on the famous ‘Pink Granite Coast,’ sits Ploumanac’h, its houses dwarfed by enormous pink boulders, while Guémené-Sur-Scorff is renowned for its tasty chitterling sausages known as Andouille.
Led by a historian who splits his time between London and Brittany, Alan Montgomery, this interactive seminar will explore a selection of the area’s prettiest villages, explaining their historical and architectural importance and highlighting their most interesting sights and monuments. Designed to inform curiosity and future travels, participants will come away with an insider’s view of the history and culture of some of France’s most characterful places.
How do I access the lecture?
Once you complete your purchase, you will receive an email with a link to stream the lecture on the Context Travel website. You can also access your past purchases anytime under My Orders. Please ensure you are logged into your account to open the streaming page.
Is closed captioning (i.e. subtitles) available?
Yes! All of our lectures have the option to turn on closed captioning should you have difficulty hearing the expert.
How long does each event last?
Our recorded lectures typically run for 60 minutes.
How can I share this lecture with friends or family?
You are welcome to watch together with friends or family but each person viewing on their own device will need to purchase the lecture individually.
How long does my access to the lecture last?
Once you purchase a lecture, you are welcome to view it as many times as you like and your access does not expire.
What is your cancellation and refund policy?
Sales for recorded lectures are final upon purchase. Please contact us at digital@contexttravel.com if you have any questions or concerns about your purchase.
Can I purchase a gift card for a friend who is traveling?
Absolutely! Gift cards can be purchased here. Gift cards are good for 365 days from the date of purchase.
75 Reviews
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Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
lovely villages and very well done lecture. my only suggestion would be to show the location of the specific villages on the map.
Mary anne
Mar. 4, 2024
Limited number of villages, not over a broad area and didn’t find very interesting.
Jennifer
Feb. 2, 2024
Nice presentation. I thought he knew his material.
Peter
Jan. 30, 2024
