Brittany is one of Europe’s oldest Celtic nations, sharing cultural roots with Wales, Cornwall, and Ireland. Once the Kingdom and later Duchy of Brittany, it enjoyed centuries of independence until its 1532 union with France, which gradually curtailed its self-rule.

The Breton language (Brezhoneg), once dominant in the west, and a strong regional identity persisted despite periodic centralisation.  A modern nationalist movement began in the early 20th century with the creation of the Breton Nationalist Party (1911) and later groups that sought autonomy or independence. Breton culture was heavily repressed during the 20th century, especially under policies promoting linguistic uniformity in France. Despite this, a cultural renaissance emerged from the 1960s onward, reviving Breton music, festivals, and language education—most notably through Diwan immersion schools. 

Today, political aspirations focus on greater decentralisation, often linked to protecting linguistic rights and restoring Brittany’s historic territory (including the Nantes region). Independence sentiment exists but remains modest, represented electorally by parties such as the Union Démocratique Bretonne, part of the EFA network. Brittany’s status as a stateless nation endures through its Celtic heritage and persistent desire for cultural continuity within a highly centralised French state.