Spots not to be missed on the Presqu'Île
according to an article in Géo magazine
Opposite Brest, on the borders of Finistère, the Crozon peninsula extends into the heart of the Armorique regional natural park, bordered by the Aulne maritime, the Brest harbor and the Iroise Sea. Our 12 ideas for walks in the most beautiful places on the peninsula.
The tip of Pen Hir
At the far west of the peninsula, it is one of the most popular places for visitors passing through Crozon. Once on the cliffs, numerous viewpoints are offered to the eye: the Pointe du Raz, which faces the Pointe Saint-Mathieu, and the islands of Ouessant and Molène offshore. But when the fog clears the horizon, it is the feeling of standing at the end of the world that takes over.
The menhirs of Raguénez
Don't walk past thinking they are just ordinary rocks. In Raguénez there are in fact three quartzite menhirs, which were surely part of a megalithic alignment. The largest of them is 2.30 meters high!
The artists' district in Camaret-sur-mer
Inspired by its marina, its Vauban tower, its Rocamadour chapel or its megalithic alignments, many artists have settled in Camaret-sur-mer, in the Saint-Thomas district which became, in 1992, the "artists' district". Lovers of painting, drawing or sculpture, do not hesitate to enter the lair of these creators!
The old abbey of Landévennec
A true vestige of Breton history, Landévennec Abbey was founded at the turn of the 5th and 6th centuries, making it the oldest monastic foundation in the region. Transformed into a museum, it is today an archaeological site on which several successive reconstructions have been unearthed. It notably attests to the evolution of the monks' lifestyles over the centuries.
Pen Hat Beach
Even if swimming is prohibited there, due to the baïnes, a nice breath of sea air on the beach of Pen Hat (or Pen Had), in the town of Camaret-sur-mer, is worth the detour. It is one of the places on the coast where the water is clearest, making for an idyllic postcard landscape.
The fishing village of Morgat
This former fishing port opening onto the bay of Douarnenez, previously a fishing village specializing in tuna and sardines, is today a seaside resort very popular with nature lovers. Its colorful houses, its large beach and its location on the GR34 hiking trail make it an ideal destination for the whole family. Above all, we come to admire a curiosity of nature, of sea caves born from marine erosion, which hollowed out the cliffs.
The island of Aber
Topped by a fort, this island, which becomes a peninsula at low tide, has often been a strategic post in military terms. A fort was notably erected there in 1862, under the order of Napoleon III, the ruins of which can be observed today. Remnants of the Second World War can also be found on the island, amid lush flora and fauna.
The village of Locronan
With its granite houses and buildings, Locronan is both one of the "small towns of character" and one of the "most beautiful villages in France". It takes its name from Saint Ronan, who Christianized the town in the 6th century. Locronan experienced its moment of glory in the 16th century thanks to its expertise in the manufacture of sailcloth. In the town centre, don't miss the Saint-Ronan church and the Pénity chapel, as well as the well in the central square.
The Cape of the Goat
It is a place that those who suffer from vertigo will not particularly appreciate... nevertheless, this cape, whose cliffs open abruptly towards the sea, offers one of the most beautiful panoramas of the Crozon peninsula, from Cape Sizun at the tip of Pen Hir, or even that of Saint-Mathieu, with a view of the islands of Molène and Ouessant, but also of those of Sein and Ponant.
The Capuchin fort in Roscanvel
Built in 1848 according to plans by Vauban, who had imagined it 150 years earlier, the Fort des Capuchins is located on the islet of the same name, in the town of Roscanvel, at the foot of the cliff. It was designed at the same time as Fort du Minou, to the north, to protect access to the entrance to the Goulet de Brest. We arrive there via a small bridge built shortly after the fort was erected, after a beautiful salty walk.
The Virgin Island
Arriving at Pointe Saint-Hernot, aka Virgin Island, is for a second like having left Brittany for Corsica. This site, as wild as it is fragile, welcomes many tourists, who come to visit its beach, nestled in a small cove that is difficult to access. Due to its high attendance, its access is regularly subject to closures, in order to preserve this jewel of the Breton territory.
The Piles of Peas
Perched on the tip of Pen Hir, take a look at the horizon: you will then come across strange aligned rocks, which bear very Breton names: Petit Dahouët, Grand Dahouët, Penn-Glaz, Chelott, Bern-Id and Ar Forc’h. They are essential figures of the Brest Maritime Festival, during which old rigging winds between them. Far from being simple frozen monuments, they are also the playground for climbing enthusiasts, who set out to attack them.
