If you go futher inland, you'll also find forests, small lakes and rivers such as the Blavet, Semnon and Vilaine rivers. Outdoor activities related to the rivers and ocean are common in the summertime. Last summer, I was able to bike along the Villaine all the way to Saint-Malo from Rennes. It was a lovely experience!
The large coastline makes fishing and maritime trading an important economic driver of the region. There are a large number of ports along the coastline of both historic and contemporary importance such as those of Brest, Lorient and Saint-Malo. The port in Lorient, for instance, is the largest seafood port (in terms of total value of goods sold) in all of France, with over 25000 tons of fresh fish hauled in each year. It directly provides jobs to over 3000 people.
The wide variety of environments and temperate climates (relative to other regions of France) also attract tourists in the summertime. Although the Brittany region is less visited than cities such as Paris, tourism plays an important role in the economies of many Breton cities such as Rennes. For example, you can kayak and ride electric boats in the Vilaine river flowing through Rennes.
Finally, as I mentioned in my article on galettes in the Brittany region, the sandy soils and frequent rain make it ideal for growing buckwheat and raising cattle. It's no wonder the galettes are so delicious!
