Brest is a Breton city on the Atlantic Ocean and the largest French port of war. City fortifications have survived here, which dates back to Roman times, and many visitors are attracted by the local Oceanopolis Aquarium.
Due to its location, Brest has been a strategic point in trade and for the war fleet since ancient times. It developed especially in the 17th century, when the main base for the French fleet operating in the Atlantic was built here. The city also got rich on trade with America. During World War II, the Germans created a port for U-boats here, which in 1945 was severely bombed by the Allies. This caused the destruction of a large part of the city.
After World War II, there was a rapid reconstruction. A large part of Brest's monuments was raised from rubble, including the castle from the 12th to the 16th centuries and the city walls, the oldest fragments of which were built by the Romans. Today, the castle houses the National Maritime Museum.
The Oceanopolis Aquarium here is well-deserved fame. In over 50 reservoirs live here animals living in sea waters around the world from the Arctic to the tropical seas. A modern attraction of Brest is the Les Capucins cultural center located in the revitalized buildings of the former port warehouses, which can be reached by a modern cable car.
