Lannilis brings together two perspectives: the landscape between Aber Wrac’h and Aber Benoît, and a history of church architecture and art spanning different periods. A cycling route, the weekly market and an annual mussel festival add practical reasons to plan a visit. You can decide whether nature, culture or a particular event should take centre stage on your trip.
Between Two Abers: Landscape and Routes
The commune lies on a watershed between the two abers. Small streams, bordered by wetlands, drain into them. Aber Wrac’h forms Lannilis’s north-eastern boundary, and Aber Benoît its south-eastern boundary. The section of Aber Wrac’h within Lannilis is also designated a Type 1 ZNIEFF. The small streams and the two abers thus offer different scales of the same landscape.
A branch of the Véloroute du Pays des Abers runs through Plouvien and Lannilis to the port of Aber Wrach in Landéda. Route conditions may change; check them before setting out on a cycling trip. Three routes designated for tourists are also listed in Lannilis. Check their local availability in advance.
Chapels, Church and Art
The Chapelle Saint-Yves du Bergot is in the Bergot district and is listed as a historic monument. Its main construction phase dates to the 16th century; the building also bears the date 1685. The construction phase and the date provide two distinct points of reference in the chapel’s history.
Work on Lannilis’s parish church began in 1874, and the building was consecrated on 12 September 1876. The organ, with 19 stops and 1,102 pipes, was first played there on 14 September 1851 and is used for church services and concerts. Concert programmes may vary. A display case in a side chapel contains notable examples of ecclesiastical goldsmithing from the parish and several surrounding parishes.
The Chapelle Saint-SĂ©bastien in Lannilis was built around 1640 in response to a plague epidemic. It is a surviving and accessible religious building from the 17th century. Access arrangements may vary; check them before your visit.
The Chapelle Notre-Dame du Traon houses a polychrome wooden group depicting the Flight into Egypt, dated to the 15th or 16th century. The chapel’s fountain complex also contains a millstone that probably dates from the Iron Age and is associated with the milling tradition of the Traon valley. Some authors describe the calvary cross at the chapel as one of the oldest crosses of its kind in Brittany.
Wednesday Market and Foire aux Moules
The market in Lannilis takes place on Wednesdays and continues to draw many people. Another occasion is the Foire aux Moules de Lannilis: held every year since 1980, it brings together several thousand food lovers. Mussel dishes are served alongside grilled food and a varied music programme, including traditional Breton music and other entertainment. The exact event date and visitor numbers may change; check the dates for your year of travel.
Choose Your Travel Dates
The main difference between the market and the Foire is their timing: the market is part of the weekly Wednesday routine, while the mussel festival is an annual event with a date to check each year. For a different focus, you can plan around the cultural and landscape attractions and check information about the routes and access to the Chapelle Saint-SĂ©bastien in advance.
Discover more destinations: Plougonven, Landivisiau, Pont-L'abbé, Brest, Pencran, Plouarzel, Taule, Tregourez.
See the regional travel overview: Finistere.
