Finistère: All destinations, advice & information for your holidays!
Finistère, the end of the world: This is what the westernmost department of France at the tip of the Breton peninsula is called. Its most important cities are Brest and Quimper. Around 1,200 kilometers of coastline form the boundary between water and land in Finistère. Here, the tides are particularly pronounced, leading to a diverse landscape.
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Finistère - The most beautiful cities
Quimper
Particularly charming is the pretty old town, where the Saint-Corentin Cathedral is located. It was named in honor of the first bishop of Quimper and towers over all other buildings with its delicate spires. Also worth seeing are the Breton half-timbered houses from the 16th and 17th centuries. Between the old town and the old Roman district of Locmaria on the banks of the Odet River is the Fayence Museum. Quimper has been famous for its faience, artistic ceramics, for centuries. Gourmets are drawn to the market halls. Here you can try all sorts of delicacies from freshly caught shrimp to crêpes.
Brest
Brest in the French region of Finistère is the home port of the French Navy. In the Maritime Museum, you can learn more about the history. For even more maritime adventures, take boat tours along the coast with hidden coves and cliffs. Ride the cable car over the city and enjoy a panoramic view. Walk over the impressive bridge across the sea to the lighthouse or stroll along the quay to the end museum. A highlight for families is a visit to Océanopolis in Brest, the marine zoo. Huge aquariums and a seal clinic let you get up close with the sea creatures.
Concarneau
Its magnetic attraction is owed to the city of the so-called Ville close. The "closed city" is connected to the mainland by a bridge and is almost completely surrounded by water and walls, the Remparts. Once Concarneau was the site of a Benedictine monastery, but over time it developed into a significant fortress. Today, the Ville close is a tourist center. Especially in summer, visitors stroll through the narrow streets. At every corner, small souvenir shops and cafés entice, where you can try specialties like crêpes and Kouign Amann. Outside the Ville close, a trip to the neo-Gothic Château de Kériolet is worthwhile.
Douarnenez
Visitors to the maritime museum can learn more about Douarnenez's maritime history, where they can marvel at watercraft from ancient times to the present and discover fascinating facts about life on and by the sea. In the city's market halls next to the fish canning factory, the fruits of the sea are sold fresh from the catch. Off the coast of Douarnenez lies Île Tristan, which is accessible on foot at low tide. The tidal island hosts a lighthouse, a fortification, a villa, and a botanical garden. Just outside Douarnenez is Plage du Ris, a narrow bathing beach with a view of the city.
Morlaix
The Maison à Pondalez in Morlaix is unmistakable. It is an extraordinary building with a half-timbered facade. Inside, one of the best-preserved spiral staircases can be found. Today, the house hosts a museum about the city's history. The impressive viaduct also shapes the cityscape. Morlaix is built on three hills. The enclosed parish district of Saint-Thégonnec is distinctive. You enter it through a mighty door. Worth seeing are the church with its rich decoration and the Calvary. If you feel like an excursion, take a boat to the Îlot Callot.
Pont-Aven
The small mill town of Pont-Aven in France became famous through the renowned painter Paul Gauguin, who spent several summers in the town in the 19th century and painted. In painting courses, you can explore your artistic side, visit galleries, or stroll through the picturesque landscape following in Gauguin's footsteps. On hikes along the Aven river, you discover hidden waterfalls, charming mills, or lush forests. You gain a different perspective on a boat trip. Not far from Pont-Aven, the Brittany coast with its beautiful sandy beaches invites you to take a trip with the whole family.
Locronan
Even in Celtic times, the location of Locronan was known as a cult path. Numerous sailcloth weavers brought wealth to the town from the 14th century onwards. It was during this time that the picturesque granite houses were built, which today make up the charm of Locronan. Many of them stand on the main square. The entire center is car-free. The landmark is the Church of Saint-Ronan, built in the Flamboyant Gothic style. On the colorful stained glass windows, you can see many scenes from the Bible. Locronan served as a backdrop for numerous films. Tess by Thomas Hardy was filmed here. Do not miss the cakes Kouign Amann offered in local bakeries.
Roscoff
Beautifully decorated shipowners' houses hint at the former wealth of the port town of Roscoff. Pause at the harbor and enjoy the view of the nearby island of Batz. Another relic from the past is the church Notre-Dame-de-Croaz-Batz: its bell tower can be seen from afar, flanked by slender round towers. Roscoff made history as one of the first thalassotherapy locations. As early as the 19th century, people enjoyed the beneficial effects of saltwater and sea products here. Numerous beaches around Roscoff invite you to swim. At Plage de Roc'h Kroum, there are swimming areas for children without waves.
Finistère - 5 most beautiful natural sights
Cape of the Goat
The Cap de la Chèvre is a headland in the south of the Breton peninsula of Crozon. The wild and romantic landscape is a true hiking paradise: On the Sentier Côtier, you hike from the Pointe Kerroux to Morgat. Unique and characteristic for this region are the color plays of the sea, which arise due to different water depths. On a hike through extensive heathlands, you walk to the cliff coast at the Pointe de Saint-Hernot in the east of the cape, where cozy bays with turquoise water await you. In the west of the Cap de la Chèvre is the Pointe de Lostmarc’h with the remains of a fortification and fine sandy beaches.
Isle of Batz
Off the northwest coast of France, the Ile de Batz is just a short ferry ride from Roscoff. The approximately 3.5 square kilometer island invites cycling and hiking. A coastal path leads to about 20 beaches. Another highlight is the "Snake Hole," an impressive granite rock surrounded by a dragon legend. The most famous attraction of the Ile de Batz is the Jardin Georges Delaselle. The exotic garden houses an impressive collection of plants from around the world and exudes a magical atmosphere. Another popular destination is the majestic lighthouse. From 44 meters, you can overlook the entire island.
Trestraou Beach
You can reach the 1.4 km long Trestraou Beach via Boulevard Joseph le Bihan, where there are numerous shops and restaurants. There are sanitary facilities at both ends of the beach. In summer, the sandy beach is supervised. The numerous leisure activities include a mini-golf course, kite flying, and beach volleyball. Trestraou Beach is known for its excellent wind conditions. This is why water sports enthusiasts like to gather here. The local surf school offers courses for children and adults. Wind and kite surfing, wave riding, and stand-up paddling are available. Additionally, you can rent high-quality equipment here.
Pen-Hir Point
The Pointe de Penhir takes you to cliffs about 70 meters high over the Atlantic. Thanks to its rugged rock formations, it is a popular training area for mountaineers. From there, you can also see other capes like Pointe du Raz, Pointe de Dinan, or Cap de la Chèvre. If you dare to the edge of the sandstone promontory, you will discover the Pea Islands (Tas de Pois). On a platform stands the striking granite cross Croix de Penhir, inaugurated by de Gaulle in the 1960s. Along the way, you also pass the impressive stone rows of Lagatjar with 150 white quartz menhirs.
Pointe du Raz
Off the Pointe du Raz are two lighthouses, the Phare de la Vieille and the Phare de Tévennec, around which numerous myths revolve. At the end of the cape, there is a statue of Our Lady of the Shipwrecked and a granite Celtic cross erected in 2000. The cross is a popular photo subject. On hidden paths along the coast of the Pointe du Raz, further impressive views are revealed: Take a look at the Hell of Plogoff, a tunnel carved into the rock by the sea, and the uninhabited rocky island of Gorle Greiz.
Finistère - Climate
The following graph shows the average weather conditions for the country. Historical weather conditions may vary by region.