Forest Therapy in Brittany—and 5 Beautiful Places Elsewhere in France
Forest therapy somewhere other than Brittany? What would the korrigans say?
(For readers outside France: korrigans are the mischievous little beings of Breton folklore. They have a reputation for keeping travellers on their toes.)
But perhaps leaving Brittany’s borders to practise forest therapy is less a korrigan’s trick than a druid’s good idea 😏. Forest therapy—slow, intentional time spent reconnecting in wooded environments—certainly does not belong to Brittany alone.
France is full of places suited to this kind of experience. Some are far less famous internationally than Finistère, Morbihan or Brocéliande, yet offer magnificent forests, rivers and old trees for nature connection.
And if you would like to explore the natural landscapes of Loire-Atlantique alone, with family or friends, you can also offer a forest therapy gift card.
Before visiting a few lesser-known places, here is a brief reminder of what forest therapy can offer—and why it does not need a mystical Breton postcode to be meaningful.
A quick reminder: what can forest therapy offer?
Slowing stress and mental overload
Forest therapy, sometimes linked with the Japanese practice of forest bathing, invites people to slow down and use sensory attention in nature. Research on nature exposure and forest bathing suggests potential benefits for relaxation, perceived stress and
mood. Claims about ‘detoxifying’ the body or curing illness, however, go beyond the evidence.
Some people also describe the experience in energetic or spiritual language. I welcome that dimension as personal experience, while keeping it distinct from established physiological effects.
Making space to let go
Forest therapy is not only about relaxation. It can also create emotional space for reflection.
With the support of a forest therapy guide, some people experience strong emotion, insight or simply deep calm. In my own spiritual language, I sometimes call this an awakening to plant consciousness—an invitation to pay closer attention to the Living World.…
These slow experiences in nature are often inspired by Shinrin-yoku and can help us step out of ordinary mental noise for a while.
Many places in France are wonderful for forest therapy. What matters most is not a supposed universal ‘energy’ of a location, but the quality of the landscape, safety, biodiversity, quiet and the relationship you build with the place. 🌲
5 beautiful places outside Brittany for forest therapy
Brittany deserves its reputation for forests rich in legend, but other French regions can be just as enchanting. Loire-Atlantique alone offers many possibilities, while central France and the Paris region contain extraordinary forests too. ⛰️
The Loire riverbanks
Between the gentle landscapes of Anjou and the Atlantic influence, the Loire offers wooded paths and river landscapes that are beautiful settings for slow nature walks and forest therapy.
And why not train as a forest therapy guide yourself? A slightly more contemporary profession than druid, perhaps—although the fairy Viviane might disagree.
Val de Chézine Park in Nantes
Even without a single korrigan in sight, Val de Chézine Park in Nantes, Loire-Atlantique contains many quiet corners for nature connection.
It is an urban green corridor that local residents know well and visitors often overlook.
Wooded paths and mature trees create pockets of calm surprisingly close to the city. It is a good reminder that forest therapy does not always require a remote wilderness.a network of green spaces
Some places invite you simply to sit beneath a large tree—or, if it feels right and the tree is safe, enjoy a gentle tree hug 😉
Rambouillet Forest
Southwest of Paris, Rambouillet Forest offers beautiful woodland and extensive walking trails. I once completed part of my own forest therapy training there 😍. It is a wonderful place for immersive nature experiences—and yes, you could even bring a homemade Breton kouign-amann if you want to keep Brittany represented after all.
a good book is also highly recommended.
Tronçais Forest
In central France, the magnificent Tronçais Forest is famous for its old oak stands. No magic potion is required to appreciate its scale and atmosphere. It is an ideal place to slow down among trees—a much better bath than a crowd bath, if you ask me.
Further south, the volcanic landscapes of Auvergne offer another form of nature immersion, shaped by geology as much as by forests. 🌋
Domaine de la Pilardière
The Domaine de la Pilardière in Oudon, Loire-Atlantique sits in an exceptional green setting near the Loire.
Its wooded avenues and mature trees surround a nineteenth-century manor and create an atmosphere that easily invites daydreaming.
I have guided forest therapy outings there many times and understand why participants remember it so fondly.
The park, now owned by the town of Oudon, has also hosted my spring workshops around buds and plant awareness.
Subscribe to the newsletter to hear about future dates.
Forest therapy outside Brittany? Absolutely.
If you live in southern, central, western or northeastern France and Brittany feels very far away, no problem. These five places are only a tiny sample of the landscapes where people can slow down and reconnect with trees.
Several of the places mentioned here are in Pays de la Loire, especially Loire-Atlantique. You are welcome to discover them during a forest therapy outing—alone, as a couple, with friends or with family.
In short
Between us, what would you rather hug: a tree or a menhir? I’m joking—I love Brittany too 🤩
I simply find it a shame when forest therapy is associated exclusively with one region, when there are so many extraordinary trees and landscapes throughout France—and throughout the world.
I hope I’ll have the pleasure of sharing some of them with you.
PS: To make peace with Brittany, here is a dolmen… in the forest, of course. Devezh mat—have a beautiful day! 🍺
Comments