Fouesnant, Bénodet, Les Glénan
Do you like unspoiled nature, beaches, seaside resorts, walks, but also outings and entertainment? Your holidays in Brittany, on the south coast of Finistère, overlooking the Baie de la Forêt Fouesnant, will be ideal ...
At the heart of the Bay of La Forêt Fouesnant
For a holiday with unspoilt scenery, beaches, seaside resorts, sight-seeing but also fun and entertainment, the Bay of La Forêt Fouesnant on the south coast of Finistère is an ideal destination. With family or friends, with children and babies, there is something for everyone to guarantee unforgettable holiday memories.
The Brittany Riviera comprises the three seaside resorts of Fouesnant-les Glénan, Bénodet and la Forêt Fouesnant, an area with 250km of footpaths, 26km of beaches, numerous water sports centres and 2 golf courses, not forgetting the Thalassotherapy Centre at Bénodet.
Beach lovers are spoilt for choice from the family-friendly, gently sloping, Blue-flag approved beaches of Cap Coz which have a lifeguard presence and are suitable for people with reduced mobility. There are beaches all along the coast beginning with Bénodet beach and its bustling sea front, a great place for a stroll while eating a crêpe or a delicious home-made ice cream.
Beaches, rockpool fishing and protected areas
There are plenty of other lovely beaches like Beg Meil and the long beach at Mousterlin and also more secluded ones like Kerambigorn, Maner Coat Clevarec, Le Letty at Bénodet, Kerler, Lerneuc and Kerlosquen. Around Cap Coz you can find numerous coves with enchanting names to explore and the seashore at low tide at Cap Coz is great for rockpool fishing.
This corner of south Finistère is not just beaches. Go for a walk or bike ride along the coast and through the peaceful countryside to marvel at the beautiful scenery. There are no less than 6 Natura 2000 protected areas covering 300 hectares like the Mousterlin marshes / polders where you are sure to see grey heron, red-breasted mergansers, egrets and even Brent geese.
Gourmet food and Breton dancing in the spotlight
Let’s get down to basics ! The choice of places to eat includes gourmet restaurants and numerous crêperies. Many food outlets offer seafood or you can prepare some yourself at home. A good range of local speciality foods can be found at the market in Fouesnant, Bénodet and La Forêt-Fouesnant.
For an evening out, go to a free concert at the Butte du Fort in Bénodet. To discover Breton dancing and music « Fest Deiz » are held during the day or « Fest Noz » in the evening in many local towns and villages.
Discovering the Glénan Isles
And now for the icing on the cake ! During your stay on the Brittany Riviera you can board a boat at Fouesnant, Bénodet, Port la Forêt, La Forêt Fouesnant for a cruise along the Odet or to the Glénan Isles. The Glénan Archipelago is a string of seven islands around a lagoon of clear, turquoise water, bordered by white sandy beaches. The change of scenery is totally amazing - many people compare the idyllic landscape to that of the Seychelles. You can’t stay overnight on the islands but you can eat, swim, walk or discover the underwater landscape on a guided trip in a glass-bottomed boat.
To make life easy, boats leave from Bénodet, Concarneau, Loctudy, Port-la-Forêt and Beg Meil from April to September and after a one hour crossing drop passengers on the main island of Saint-Nicolas. Only Saint-Nicolas is open to visitors, the islands of Penfret, Bananec, Cigogne and Drennec are home to the water sports centre and the other islands are bird reserves or privately-owned. Between April and June, the Glénan narcissus is in bloom. This plant, native to the islands, was threatened with extinction during the 1950s and is preserved on the island of Saint Nicolas.
« I absolutely adore the evening silence on the coast looking out over the vast ocean before going for a drink and something to eat in a local restaurant. It’s as good as it gets ! »
The Brittany Riviera is easy to get to by road (RN12, exit for Fouesnant), by rail (TGV to Quimper or Rosporden) and air (Aéroport de Quimper Pluguffan) via regular flights from Paris.
