Does anyone live in or around St Brieuc?

[Antonia]

Last summer was the third in a row where I've spent most of the time inside, out of the intense heat, watching the Canadairs fly over. With water restrictions already being discussed ( which would put paid to the pool ) I suspect this year will be no different.
So, I had a thought. What if I was to buy a little flat somewhere up north that I could retreat to in the Summer. I know St Brieuc a bit and, on paper, it looks a good bet as there are reasonable rail links and it's not to far from Rennes or St Malo if I wanted to go to Jersey to visit friends.
Does anyone have any local insight?

[Blaze]

One of the reasons we moved to the north coast was because neither of us can stand the heat nor the thought of being stuck inside all summer because of it !
We've been here for 7 years and never once regretted moving apart from missing friends. The climate is very agreeable, and the summers are bliss : not too hot and not much rain (actually, not enough ... but that's a different story).

Saint-Brieuc is cheaper than the Saint-Malo area and with the free "motorways" in Brittany, it's easy to get about. The rail link to Rennes is good and you can change there to get to Saint-Malo. Saint-Brieuc is just over an hour from Saint-Malo by road and even though most of that route is not motorway, it's a pleasant drive (though we've never done it in high summer).

Just one word of warning .... the Brittany coast gets extremely busy in summer though naturally there are quiet corners to be found. The roads can get very busy with tourists/camping cars, as in any touristy area the beaches are horribly crowded in summer, even on the north coast !!!

[exile]

I cannot help with Brittany but I think your view on water shortages is spot on. A very dry winter means level in the various sources is already low. Unless there is a lot of rain in the next 2 months it is likely to be dire.

[Antonia]

Thank you Blaze. I live in a tourist area now so tend to spend July and August 'chez nous' but the last few years the temperatures have risen dramatically making that uncomfortable. I'd probably do much the same if I was in St Brueuc although it would be nice to have more things to do on the doorstep.

[Blaze]

@Antonia I think Saint Brieuc is quite lively in the summer with various things going on (animations). The fact that it's not so hot means it's a lot more pleasant getting out and about. We know the area between Saint Brieuc and Cap Fréhél pretty well - definitely worth a visit !

[Antonia]

Then you will no doubt know Erquy which is my favourite place on the planet

[Blaze]

Then you will no doubt know Erquy which is my favourite place on the planet

Yes ! We have great friends there and our favourite camp site is nearby

[Polly]

Antonia, I wish you well in your search for a flat away from the southern heat. We bought in the Gard 15 years ago, never intending to spend time there in July/August as we knew we couldn’t stand the heat - we spent time there in autumn, spring and mostly in winter, usually up to 6 months annually until brexit.

Unable to travel earlier in 2022 due to ill-health, we flew out from Heathrow at the beginning of June with the temperature at 12C, arriving at Marseille in the high 20s and it kept going up from there. After spending most of my time for a couple of days in our bedroom with the aircon, only walking into town in the early morning, we flew home about 10 days early, when it was 39C.

We haven’t been back since; we normally leave France in late June and return in September but needed to stay here for hospital appointments last year. I’m heading for ready to travel following knee replacement surgery in January but need to stay here until late March for a funeral - really hoping there won’t be any high temperatures around Easter.

Our June experience last year has started us thinking of selling up in the Gard, so we’ll probably start looking into it while we’re there, possibly think of buying somewhere further north in France or on the south coast in Devon.

Good luck searching.

[suein56]

Our June experience last year has started us thinking of selling up in the Gard, so we’ll probably start looking into it while we’re there, possibly think of buying somewhere further north in France or on the south coast in Devon.

We live in southern Morbihan and even here temps in the last couple of years have kept me inside far too much. April at a scorching 33° only paved the way for top end 30s a while later and then just over 40° in August. As I age I find it impossible to tolerate these temps anymore.
Last summer I started searching the Internet ..
It is fairly unlikely that we will move north but it's not been ruled out; so I can only suggest that you are thinking along sensible lines.

[Antonia]

Thank you Polly. I've been here twenty years and had always managed to cope with the summers but the last few years the heat has been terrible. As you say, living in one room in the half light because the shutters are closed to keep the heat out is enough to drive anyone crazy. I would have left myself if I had anywhere to go.
This weekend I emptied the pool. It's been closed down since last August when we were no longer allowed to top it up. With talk of restrictions starting as early as this month I can't see it being used this year so would rather it was empty and not a breeding ground for mosquitoes.