History and Identity of Brittany

The Celts arrived in Amorique in the 6th century BC, having travelled westwards from central Europe. They finally settled on the peninsular in the 4th Century BC, and named it “Ar Mor”. The romans later conquered Amorique and the gaulish tribes were progressively Romanised. Under the Roman empire, important cities were developed and modernized with their temples, thermal baths, theatres, paved roads and aqueducts. In the 5th and 6th centuries, the Bretons who were Celts from Great Britain immigrated to Amorique and integrated with the traditions and culture of their hosts. The region was gradually Christianized by Celtic missionaries, after whom many Breton towns are named.

Ravaged by the Normans in the 10th century, Brittany came under English domination from 1166. In 1488, the Breton army was beaten by the royal army of Saint-Aubin du Cormier and became a territory of the King of France resulting in the perpetual union of France and Brittany.

Although Brittany is totally integrated into France, it retains a strong cultural identity, a regional language which is fiercely supported and defended, it’s own music, festivals, religious rites, literature, architecture and gastronomy.

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