Camaret

Military might

Picture 1 Camaret Picture 2 Camaret Picture 3 Camaret

At the tip of the Crozon Peninsula, Camaret-sur-Mer has proudly defended the Bay of Brest for centuries. As well as the historic Tour Vauban military lookout, Camaret offers visitors some lovely beaches and spectacular views. The annual religious pardon is one of Brittany’s most memorable.

Bird’s-eye view

The main reason many tourists come to Camaret is to visit the Tour Vauban, a four-storey defensive tower designed and built by military engineer Vauban in 1689; it is surrounded by a moat and reached by a drawbridge. The tower was put to good use while still being built when an Anglo-Dutch fleet tried to attack the bay of Brest in 1694; its nine cannons fired on the ships killing 800 sailors. The tower became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.

On the beach

Camaret has five lovely sandy beaches in its surroundings. Families head to Corréjou, nearest the town, while surfers make for Pen-Had, which is also great for sunning but not for swimming due to its strong currents. About a mile south of the centre is Veryac’h beach, where you’ll find several attractive little coves, which are accessible at low tide.

Point of view

South of Camaret is the Pointe de Pen-Hir, which offers breathtaking views over the coast and islands; it’s worth making the trip at dusk for the sunsets and you’ll also see beams from the lighthouses. As well as being one of the best sites in Brittany for climbing, the point is also the location of a monument to the Breton men who gave their lives for France during the Second World War. Look out for a field filled with about 100 standing stones, which are known as the Lagatjar Megaliths on the road to Pen-Hir; they date from around 2500BC.

Pardon me

Near the Tour Vauban is the chapel of Notre Dame de Rocamadour, whose current form dates from the 17th century. Along with the tower, the chapel is a symbol of Camaret and is cherished by the town’s sailors. One of Brittany’s most famous pardons takes place here on the first Sunday in September when sailors lost at sea are remembered; a flotilla of boats filled with dignitaries heads out into the bay to lay a wreath.

Did you know?

American engineer and inventor Robert Fulton tested what is regarded as the first viable submarine off Camaret in 1801.