Brittany

Brittany projects into the Atlantic, its maritime position shaping an economy where fishing, agriculture, and tourism mix with surprising technology development. Rennes serves as regional capital and hosts one of France's most dynamic technology clusters—second only to Paris in software and digital services employment. This combination of traditional maritime economy and contemporary tech creates unusual economic diversity.

Agriculture, particularly livestock, dominates the interior. Brittany produces approximately 50% of French pork and a significant share of poultry, creating an agro-industrial complex of farms, processing facilities, and feed suppliers. This intensive production generates environmental pressures (particularly nitrate pollution of coastal waters) that force adaptation toward more sustainable methods. Organic and quality-labeled production has expanded as conventional margins compressed.

The region's Celtic identity—distinct from broader French culture—supports tourism that extends beyond beach resorts to cultural heritage (standing stones, traditional festivals, Breton language revival). Saint-Malo, Quimper, and other historic towns attract visitors seeking authenticity that mass tourism elsewhere has eroded. Whether Brittany can balance agricultural intensity, technology growth, and cultural preservation—avoiding the conflicts these priorities can create—tests regional governance.