Penmarc'h brings together lighthouse history, menhirs, coastal scenery and water sports.
Lighthouses and maritime history
The Phare d’Eckmühl was inaugurated in 1897, stands 65 metres tall and has 307 steps. It is also listed as a historic monument in France. The Vieux Phare offers another way to explore lighthouse history: it now houses a maritime discovery centre with a permanent exhibition on the history of lighthouses. While Eckmühl stands out as a structure with specific measurements and historic monument status, the permanent exhibition focuses on the history of lighthouses as a subject.
Le Papa Poydenot adds a lifeboat to the maritime theme. It was built from teak in 1900 and has been listed as a historic monument since 1992. The lighthouse, discovery centre and lifeboat thus offer different ways to explore the maritime history of the area.
Menhirs, churches and historic details
The Alignements de la Madeleine show the difference between the original site and what remains today. Originally, they comprised 600 or 700 menhirs arranged in four rows over more than a kilometre. Today, about fifty menhirs have been re-erected. The figures for the site's original size and what remains today make clear how different these two states are.
Churches and towers also provide specific historical points of reference. La Tour Carrée preserves the western tower of the former church of Saint-Guénolé, dating from 1488. Église Saint-Nonna contains four carved boats inside and fourteen on the exterior. They trace the development of shipbuilding from the late 15th century to the mid-16th century. Here, the boat carvings reveal a development over time, while La Tour Carrée is associated with a single historic tower.
Chapelle Notre-Dame de La Joie lies close to the sea on the GR® 34. Its altarpiece dates from 1756, adding a dated furnishing to the area's architectural history and coastal landscape.
Beaches and water sports
For beach days, Plage du Ster and Plage de Pors Carn offer different points of reference. Ster is 3.9 kilometres long, faces south and lies in a natural dune landscape. Pors Carn is one kilometre long and is a family and sports beach; swimming and water sports, including surfing, are possible there. If you are mainly comparing length and dune scenery, look to Ster; if you are looking for a beach specifically associated with swimming and water sports, choose Pors Carn.
The Centre nautique municipal de Penmarc'h offers rentals of kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, windsurfing boards and catamarans, as well as private lessons. It also offers guided outrigger canoe trips along the coast of Penmarc'h. You can therefore choose between equipment rental, private lessons and a guided trip—three different ways to spend time on the water.
A look at canning
Visitors can tour La Compagnie Bretonne and discover a traditional, family-run cannery. Check the current arrangements for tours before your trip.
Discover more destinations: Lanriec, Plougonvelin, Quimperlé, Le Conquet, Guiclan, Guimaëc, Plonévez-Porzay, Gouesnach
For the regional travel overview: Finistere.
