Douarnenez

From fish to families

Picture 1 Douarnenez Picture 2 Douarnenez Picture 3 Douarnenez Picture 4 Douarnenez

Once famous throughout France for its thriving sardine fishing and canning industries, Douarnenez is now a very popular family resort. As well as its maritime heritage, there is a choice of beaches, scenic coastal walks and a full calendar of events. Let’s not forget the myths and legends….

A fisherman’s life

While Douarnenez still has a major fish canning industry, fishing has declined during the past 30 years so to keep its memory alive the town turned its port into a museum. The unique Port-Musée charts the history of man’s relationship with the sea in Brittany and the rest of the world and includes more than 200 life-size boats. French speakers can enjoy a guided tour of the working fishing port or take things a step further and join a trawler crew for a night’s work at sea.

Follow the fish

The Sardine Trail is a two-hour self-guided tour around Douarnenez that takes in 17 sites associated with its famous fish from Gallo-Roman times to the 19th century; pick up a free English-language leaflet from the tourist office. The trail starts at a Gallo-Roman salting vat in Plomarc’h before taking you along the coast then through the old town.

On the beach

While Plage de Ris is popular with surfers, families tend to head to the Plage des Sables Blancs in the Tréboul district; the latter is supervised in summer and you can hire kayaks and windsurfers or take lessons. The best way to reach Sables Blancs is to take the coastal path from Tréboul marina so that you can enjoy wonderful views over the bay.

Festive fun

Every two years (next one July 2010), Douarnenez hosts the Temps-Fête maritime festival when thousands of vintage and classic boats from around the world gather in the town. Each August, the Fête des Mouettes (seagulls) celebrates Breton music and traditions, culminating in the election of a carnival queen: the seagull (she’s dressed in black and white).

Myths and legends

The Baie de Douarnenez is rife with myths and legends, the main one being that the mythical Breton city of Ys is buried beneath its waves; the ghost of the drowned Princess Dahut is said to haunt the shores in the form of a mermaid.

Did you know?

The ubiquitous Breton speciality Kouign Amann (butter cake) originated in Douarnenez.

Useful links

Douarnenez Bay