Come join me this week in Brittany, France to explore the 10 most beautiful places in the Brest region! Almost entirely rebuilt after the war, the city is not known for being the prettiest in the region. But history and nature blend harmoniously in the surrounding area, offering some truly beautiful landscapes!
So, if you want to know what to do around Brest, along its famous harbor and in northern Finistère, here are my 10 favorite places that I’ll take you to discover with me on a stroll between land and sea!
PRACTICAL TIPS TO VISIT THE BREST REGION
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How to get to the Brest region?
Brest is located 2 hours and 10 minutes from Rennes by train (2 hours and 40 minutes by car) and 3 hours and 40 minutes from Paris by train (6 hours by car).
The easiest way to visit the area around Brest is by car, as not all sites are served by public transportation.
Compare car rentals to find the best price in Brest!
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Where to stay in the Brest region?
You can, of course, stay in Brest to enjoy the city and its amenities in the evening! The area surrounding Brest also offers plenty of attractive accommodation if you prefer the peace and quiet of the countryside and the seaside!
Find your accommodation in Brest at the best price!
3 recommended accommodations for visiting the Brest area
LE BARRACUDA & SPA
- In Brest center
- 4-star hotel, sea view
- From €120
LA ROULOTTE DE LUXE
- Rated 9,6/10 on booking.com
- In the nature, coastal view
- From €80
APPART COSY VUE MER
- Fully equipped flat
- Very good value for money
- From €70
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Organize your time to visit Brest region
Allow around half a day for the eastern part of Brest region (Landerneau, Daoulas, Pont de l’Iroise) and half a day for the western part of Brest region (Le Conquet, Saint Mathieu, Petit Minou).
An extra day will allow you to explore the north coast, from Aber Ildut to Meneham.
One day is also the minimum for the Crozon peninsula; two to three days will allow you to really enjoy it!
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What to bring back from Brest region?
Brittany has a rich terroir that will allow you to bring back many local specialties! Whether savory (canned fish) or sweet (salted butter caramels, palets bretons, kouign-amann).
A few addresses: La Conserverie la Belle Iloise – rue de Siam in Brest, and La Biscuiterie de Camaret – route de Crozon in Camaret.
As Brest doesn’t have any specialties of its own, a chocolatier came up with the idea of creating the Pompon de Brest a few years ago: a caramel-filled chocolate coated in dark chocolate and shaped like a sailor’s cap. Head to the Pompon boutique on Rue de Siam in Brest to try them!
And when it comes to drinks, you can opt for cider, Breton whisky, Breton chouchen, or even Breizh Cola, the local Coca-Cola!
LANDERNEAU, THE HISTORIC CITY IN THE BREST REGION
Our tour around Brest begins a few kilometers to the east, where we set off to discover the very pretty town of Landerneau, nicknamed “the city of the moon.” The hometown of the Leclerc family, it is also a historic town between the sea and the countryside, crossed by the Elorn River. The river is covered by a very unusual feature, as Landerneau is home to one of the last inhabited bridges in the world!
The Elorn bridge dates back to 1510! It is all the more impressive given that it has withstood the tides for five centuries. It separates the fresh water of the Elorn on one side from the brackish water coming in from Brest harbor…
Enjoy the bridge and its small shops, then stroll along the quays to admire it from afar. Its architecture is truly unusual, a world away from its Florentine cousin, the famous Ponte Vecchio.
The historic district of Landerneau stretches out all around the bridge. To explore it, follow the route marked on the ground by the tourist office, which will guide you along both banks of the Elorn. The elegant stone houses, with their mix of gray and ochre hues, are full of charm, enhanced by their slate roofs. It’s nice to stroll through the narrow streets of Landerneau, admiring the many details that adorn the corners of the facades, the dormer windows, and the gables of the roofs—including the famous moon, symbol of the town.
Landerneau is also a must-see destination for contemporary art around Brest, notably with the Fonds Hélène et Edouard Leclerc. The family is famous in the town, as the first Leclerc store opened in Landerneau in 1949!
ALBERT-LOUPPE BRIDGE, A NICE EXPERIENCE IN THE BREST REGION
If you go to Landerneau or towards the Crozon peninsula, you will certainly see the majestic Iroise Bridge. This cable-stayed bridge over the Elorn River also closes off the Brest harbor. To admire it more closely, I recommend stopping at the Albert-Louppe Bridge, which runs parallel to it. Now pedestrianized, the bridge also offers a beautiful panoramic view of Brest harbor.
On windy days, the Albert-Louppe Bridge is particularly impressive: the wind rushes through its grooves and it is difficult to stand upright as you have to fight against the elements… This amusing feature and the beautiful view make it a pleasant place to stop in eastern Brest.
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THE GARDENS OF DAOULAS ABBEY
Although only the abbey church and part of the cloister remain today, the gardens of Daoulas Abbey are well worth a visit! Imbued with tranquility, they offer a pleasant stroll among a wide variety of plants and trees! I really liked the pretty layout of the herb garden, which is full of medicinal plants, flowers, and shrubs, all carefully labeled with little signs so you can learn more about them. They’re really inviting because there are plants from all five continents!
You can also extend your walk in the park, which has a beautiful 16th-century oratory and a photo exhibition featuring images from around the world. Don’t hesitate to take a stroll outside the old abbey, as the typically Breton chapel and calvary in the village square are full of charm.
Practical information – Daoulas Abbey Gardens: open every day from 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. (10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. in summer), closed in winter – Admission: €5 (reduced rates for young people and job seekers). Be sure to check the opening dates on the website.
PETIT MINOU LIGHTHOUSE
Let’s continue our adventure around Brest by sailing west to discover the Petit Minou lighthouse. This lighthouse with its funny name was built in 1697 by Vauban and shows ships the way to the channel and the port of Brest.
Perched on a small islet, it is beautifully connected to the mainland by a paved bridge that you can take to reach its base. But don’t be surprised: the Petit Minou lighthouse isn’t very big! In fact, it’s barely taller than the old French Navy semaphore tower next to it. But its unique location gives it real character!
It also offers views of the Brest channel and the Crozon peninsula just opposite. The Petit Minou beach below was the site of one of the first telegraph cables between France and America! Unfortunately, it is not suitable for swimming.
POINTE DE SAINT MATHIEU, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LIGHTHOUSE IN THE BREST REGION
Pointe de Saint Mathieu is undoubtedly one of my favorite places around Brest! With the Saint Mathieu lighthouse watching over an ancient abbey of which only the shell remains, the point is particularly photogenic. It is often battered by the winds as it faces the immensity of the ocean stretching as far as the eye can see.
Its pretty red and white lighthouse proudly displays its colors to guide sailors on their way. You can’t visit it, but at its feet you can explore the ruins of the Saint-Mathieu de Fine Terre abbey, which give the place a very special, almost mystical atmosphere… The contrast between the colors—the dark old stone and the white lighthouse—makes it a beautiful Breton postcard, especially at sunset…
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LE CONQUET AND THE BLANCS-SABLONS BEACH
Not far from the tip of Saint-Mathieu, I recommend stopping in the pretty village of Le Conquet. Its typical stone houses and small port are charming! This is also where you can catch a boat to the islands of Molène and Ouessant. All around, you can enjoy a peaceful panorama: small boats are scattered across the ria of Le Conquet and surrounded by the green Pointe de Kermorvan.
Right next to Le Conquet, the Blancs-Sablons beach lives up to its name. Its 2.5 kilometers of fine, light-colored sand in the shape of a crescent moon make it the perfect place to relax on the beach.
You can also venture out to the beautiful Kermovan peninsula, which offers a superb walk where you can breathe in the sea air!
THE 3 ABERS, THE NORTHERN PART OF BREST REGION
Proudly nicknamed the “Breton fjords,” the three abers on the northwestern coast of Finistère offer landscapes that are as wild as they are unusual. On the map, the abers look a bit like deep tears in the Finistère coastline!
There are three of them: Aber Ildut is located west of Brest, north of Le Conquet, while the other two – Aber Benoît and Aber Vrac’h – are on the north coast.
On the west side, Aber Ildut is a pretty, unspoilt spot, home to the charming village of Lanildut. It seems sheltered from the wind, just a few meters from the ocean roaring outside the aber. Don’t hesitate to take a stroll along the coastal path for some magnificent views!
Further north, Aber Benoît is less spectacular, but the bridge that spans it offers a view of the entire length of the river as it winds its way inland for several kilometers. It nevertheless provides a gateway to Aber Vrac’h, my favorite! I recommend taking the D113, which allows you to gain some height and admire the river from above.
Then head to the northern part of the river, to the hamlet of Lilia. Two wonderful surprises await you there! At the tip of Kastell Ac’h, you can enjoy an incredible view of the Île Vierge lighthouse, the tallest in Europe!
And a few hundred meters away, at low tide, you can also walk to the Aber Vrac’h lighthouse from Saint Cava beach. This will give you another view of the aber!
THE PANORAMIC ROAD FROM LANDUNVEZ TO PORTSALL
Well known to surfers, the scenic route D127 was a real favorite of mine! Although very short, it offers exceptional views as it runs along and overlooks the sea. The coast here is rocky, jagged, battered by the waves, and very wild. Below, the water also displays beautiful shades of turquoise. In the distance, you can also see the rocky outcrops that were the scene of the tragic oil spill of the Amoco Cadiz in 1978…
At the end of the road, on the east side, you will then reach Portsall. I recommend stopping off at the Guilliguy megaliths! As well as offering a superb view of Portsall Bay, the dolmen is truly beautiful!
MENEHAM AND ITS SUPERB ROCKY BEACHES
Another must-see around Brest is the hamlet of Meneham. Facing the sea, this hamlet of fishermen and seaweed gatherers has been rebuilt with pretty thatched roofs. It often offers activities, a bit like an eco-museum. I especially loved the famous house wedged between the rocks and the coast dotted with broken rocks.
A little further on, I recommend taking a detour to the Pontusval lighthouse, surrounded by a real movie set. At low tide, an endless array of rocks emerge from the long sandy beach, creating a chaotic and magical scene. The rocks are every bit as impressive as their cousins on the Pink Granite Coast!
And near the lighthouse, you can also admire the Men Marz menhir. This Christianized menhir is one of the tallest in Brittany! It’s also an opportunity to discover the many Breton legends that surround it…
THE CROZON PENINSULA, MY FAVORITE PLACE TO VISIT BREST REGION
Let’s save the best for last with the Crozon peninsula, the jewel of the Armorique Regional Nature Park. It is located just opposite Brest and closes off the Brest channel to the south.
Wild, authentic and still relatively uncrowded, it is full of gems to explore and admire. The villages of Morgat and Camaret are an ideal base from which to explore the entire peninsula. Next to Camaret, you can discover the superb Pointe de Pen-Hir, which seems to be a piece of the world rising out of the Atlantic. Right next door, the Battle of the Atlantic memorial offers some historical remains to explore, as does the fort of Roscanvel.
You can also enjoy the peninsula thanks to some superb hikes, which allow you to admire beautiful palettes of colors. The GR34, which circles Brittany, also passes through the peninsula!
And between sunrises, sunsets, flower-filled moors, and turquoise beaches, you’ll be amazed! To admire the most beautiful beaches, head to the Île Vierge…
If you would like to find out more, I invite you to read my article on the most beautiful sites on the Crozon Peninsula.
And for more information on each destination, please visit the Brest Métropole Tourisme or Brest Terres Océanes websites.
OTHER IDEAS TO VISIT BREST REGION
Here are some other ideas to visit Brest region, which has so much to offer !
Océanopolis (5 minutes away): both an oceanographic culture center and a giant aquarium, Océanopolis is a must-see in Brest that will delight young and old alike! Book your ticket for Océanopolis.
Château de Kergroadez (25 minutes away): you can visit the castle and gardens of this beautiful 17th-century Breton residence, which is still inhabited today.
Quimper (50 minutes away): this pretty town with its mix of stone and half-timbered houses is the perfect starting point for exploring the southern coast of Finistère.
Locronan (55 minutes away): a small village with typical Breton character, Locronan is listed as one of the “most beautiful villages in France.” Don’t miss it if you’re in the area!
Ouessant island (2.5 hours by boat): the westernmost island is a small wild paradise not to be missed if you’re visiting the region. Read my article about spending two days on the island of Ouessant.
Coming soon on La Marinière en Voyage…
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