Brittany: in the west, something new

Feb. 20 2014

by Jean-Philippe Tranvouez / TÊTU

With more than 140,000 inhabitants, Brest is the capital of the Great West. Second most populated city after Rennes, the city of Ponant is also the center of attraction of LGBT life. The city, resolutely turned towards the sea, lives to the rhythm of the university year. The gay population of Brest "is constantly changing", explains Erwan, the owner of theHappy Café, the city's gay bar. A renewal that takes place every year in September, with the start of the university year. Often considered as a sad and unfriendly city, Brest seems to change those who pass through. "The old Brest people come back to their roots", says Erwan, who has seen a number of boys come back in the six years he has been running his bar.

Quimper, Lorient: heading south
Ifthere aretwo cities on opposite sides of the Atlantic, they are those two. Quimper, the historical city, with its pedestrian streets paved with cobblestones, seems to be a quiet city: "The people of Quimper don't move much", explains Thierry. However, the owner of Cupidon has seen the Finisterian gay scene evolve: "Here, gays no longer feel the need to have gay bars. They no longer want to be pigeonholed.

conversely, Lorient would almost be a little sister to Brest. But if they like to have their own establishments, here too, they have turned their backs on the ghetto: "Closed doors are a thing of the past," explains Dominique, the owner of the Drôle de, who welcomes many straight people into his establishment. A rebuilt city, now turned towards tourism and the sea, Lorient sits at the heart of a rich coastline. However, even if there is still a naturist beach labeled gay, the trend is to reduce the number of gay-friendly spaces. So be careful, on the Breton beaches...

Today, the Bretons mix and go out. They also move around quite a bit. Thus, to go to a club, you will have to choose between three destinations: L'Aphrodite in Lorient, Le Symbole in Leuhan, near Quimper, and the Starman, the historical establishment of Gourin.

The Festy Gay in Gourin in 2009©Kevin Hinault I Flickr.com

Gourin, the gay capital ofFrance
Fifty kilometers from the first city, stuck in the countryside of Central Brittany, Gourin has barely more than four thousand souls. And yet, it is the historical heart of Breton gay nights. For more than thirty years, the town has been known for its gay nightclub: the Starman. Its installation was a real gamble at a time when homosexuality was not very well seen in the countryside.

Since then, the small town has become famous for its tolerance. The right-wing municipality supported the project of Bernard, owner of the Starman, to create a gay festival. This has been a success for the last three editions, since Gourin welcomes every year more than five thousand people for the parade in the main street, with floats representing gay establishments from all over Western France. A form of "gay pride, without political claims", Bernard summarizes.

Finally, despite its remoteness, the tip of Brittany is dynamic and gay-friendly. It is even ahead in terms of tolerance. Leave behind your preconceived ideas!

Find all the gay and gay-friendly addresses in Quimper, Lorient and Brest