In the heart of Brittany's Finistère region, where two rivers join, medieval Quimper seduces with its floral bridges, peaceful squares and mighty Gothic cathedral.
Colourful buildings lean crookedly over cobbled streets in this pretty city full of museums, festivals, cuisine and customs celebrating traditional Breton culture. Please note this route is seasonal.
Book your flight to Quimper today
Airlines flying to Quimper
- British Airways
Getting around
Reserve a spot on the airport shuttle or grab a taxi to get into town in around 15 minutes. To explore the region, a hire a car with LCY to pick up when you arrive. Quimper is small with a lot of pedestrianised areas, plus an extensive bus network and well-connected train station.
Language
French
Time Difference
1 hr ahead of GMT
Currency
Euro
Neighbourhoods To See
Cathedral of Saint Corentin of Quimper
The twin spires of the oldest Gothic cathedrals in Brittany dominate Quimper’s skyline. A national monument, this iconic Roman Catholic church adorned with stained glass is spectacular inside and out.
The Old Town
Cobbled streets lined with half-timbered houses connect the charming squares of the Old Town. Among the best-preserved roads are Rue Kéréon leading to the cathedral and Place Terre au Duc, while many streets are car-free, allowing you explore on foot.
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Quimper
This celebrated museum in Place Saint-Corentin holds extensive collections of French, Italian, Dutch and Flemish paintings dating back to the 14th century. Look out for the Pont-Aven School of artists, who were inspired by the nearby commune and rural surroundings.
Food And Drink
No surprise for a French town, there’s some divine eating to be found here. The scent of sweet and savoury crêpes and galettes – Breton buckwheat pancakes – follows you around town and the region is famous for its galette bretonne (crunchy shortbread) and palets Bretons (butter biscuits). Browse Le Grand Marché and Halles Saint-François food markets for local meats, cheeses and breads and wash them down with the delicately bubbly local cider, Cornouaille.
Events
MAY | Festival of Brittany
The region-wide Fête de la Bretagne features hundreds of events celebrating local culture and identity, from artistic performances to talks, exhibition and pop-up markets.
JULY | Festival de Cornouaille
This week-long homage to Breton and Celtic culture draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to watch an eclectic events programme including concerts, dance, parades, folk gigs and DJ sets.
AUGUST | Semaines Musicales de Quimper
The three-week programme of ‘Musical Weeks’ concerts runs at venues across the city including St Corentin Cathedral, Notre Dame de Kerdévot chapel, Lanniron Orangery and Cornouaille Theatre.