Brest (pop. 146,000), the third largest town in Brittany, lies at its western tip. From the 12th C it was France's leading naval port; it now takes second place to Toulon. During World War II it was an important German submarine base. It is now a considerable commercial port.
In Brest, south of the Pont de Recouvrance is the Château (13th C, altered by Vauban in 17th C), with massive round towers; it now houses the Préfecture Maritime and the Musée de la Marine. To the east of the Château, running along the old ramparts, is the Cours Dajot, which offers the best view of the extensive Rade de Brest, one of the finest and best protected anchorages in the world.
Address: Château de Brest, F-29200 Brest, France
Hours:
April 1 to September 30: 10am-6:30pm; Closed: Tue
October 1 to March 31: 1:30pm-6:30pm; Closed: Tue, Tue
Always closed on: Christmas - Christian (December 25)
From the Place de la Liberté, in the center of Brest, Rue de Siam runs southwest to the Pont de Recouvrance (1954), a massive drawbridge 64 m/210ft high spanning the river Penfeld and linking Brest with the outlying district of Recouvrance.
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