Brest

Brest sits on France's rugged northwest coast, built around a deep natural harbour that Cardinal Richelieu first fortified in 1631. The hilly streets climb from the port to views over the Penfeld River and the busy docks below. Heavy bombing during World War II flattened most of the old city, but the 15th-century Château de Brest and the medieval Tour Tanguy survived, and both are free to visit. The city rebuilt in practical concrete, giving it a blunt, honest look that grows on you. Océanopolis, a large aquarium complex on the waterfront, covers polar, tropical and temperate marine life across three pavilions. The Cours Dajot promenade offers a wide view of the harbour entrance and the Crozon peninsula beyond. Local crêperies serve proper Breton galettes with cider, and the covered market on Rue de Lyon stocks salted butter caramels and kouign-amann pastries worth carrying back to the ship.