Brittany, France

Joel Bond:A starting off point for discovering Brittany, St Malo's walled city is a display of former trading wealth. Ferries to the British Channel Islands depart from the harbour, making for a convenient addition to a trip to Brittany.

Joel Bond:For visitors to Brittany wishing to escape the larger attraction of St Malo, Dinan's smaller scale allows for a more relaxed exploration of traditional Brittany town life.

Joel Bond:Long considered the spiritual home of Brittany, Quimper is where you may still hear Breton spoken in the streets and occasionally catch a glimpse of traditional dress in public. Be sure to try a local savoury Galette de Sarrasin -- or buckwheat flour crepe -- washed down with a mug of local cider.

Joel Bond:This gastronomic restaurant deserves all the stars it can get and then some. Combining traditional Breton ingredients with modern European fusion concepts, La Ferme de l'oder is a delight to the senses. Fantastic wine list, and the presentation is sheer culinary delight.

Joel Bond:This very-well preserved walled- and moated city often serves as a film set for period dramas. Enjoy stepping back in time yourself with a day visit to Concarneau. Be especially sure to try out the coing-amann -- traditional sweet Breton pastries made with artery-clogging amounts of butter.

Joel Bond:Precious little by way of information makes these standing stones all the more mysterious. A nearby museum does its best to shed light on what is essentially lost to pre-history and myth. The greatest pleasure is found just in walking in and amongst the stones, marvelling at why and how they were set up.