Merian - Bretaň – Schröder Dirk (2017)

Armorica – this is what the Celts named this coastal land two and a half thousand years ago, which on the map resembles a lion drinking from the waters of the Atlantic and bathing its mane in the English Channel. The circumference of the 'lion's head' measures 1700 km – along this length, the sea washes the shores full of contrasts: sprawling rocky bays alternate with long, golden sandy beaches, and dunes here and there covered with dried grass give way to pink granite. Just a few kilometers from the beaches lie peaceful villages with small churches and fenced parishes. In the heart of Brittany, you will find around 4000 castles, manors, and country chateaus. From Argoat – as it was called in Celtic times, the 'Land of the Forest' – only a few places remain today, shrouded in legends. Yet even today, legends survive there, as you will discover during a walk through the magical Brocéliande forest, where King Arthur and his companions once lingered and where druids performed their sacrificial rituals. The menhirs and dolmens also possess hidden power: if a woman presses her belly against a tilted stone, she will surely become pregnant; if she counts the stones at the dolmen 'Roche-aux-Fées', she will uncover her beloved's wedding intentions. The Breton national movement, calling for Brittany's independence, is currently finding more and more...