Brest, Naval port in Brittany, France
This city sits on the banks of the Penfeld and spreads over two parallel ridges that form a natural shelter for the bay. Rue de Siam connects the center with the harbor area and runs through the postwar reconstructed neighborhoods with wide streets and functional architecture.
The foundation as a naval base took place in the 17th century under Richelieu, who used the strategic location on the Atlantic coast. During World War II the city center was almost completely destroyed and rebuilt in the following decades with modern planning.
The name comes from the Breton word for hill and refers to the topography of the settlement. Along Rue de Siam and in the neighborhoods around the harbor you find crêperies and seafood restaurants where regional everyday dishes are served.
Trams and buses connect the residential areas with the railway station and the airport, so main points are easy to reach. The old town is compact and can be explored on foot, while the harbor zone is reached by public transport.
The telegraph tower on the hill of Recouvrance belonged to an early optical communication network linking Paris with the coast. This system worked with mechanical signal arms and transmitted messages in a few hours over long distances.
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