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Saint-BrieucNestled in a bay and naturally beautiful
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Saint-Brieuc

With the Pointe de Roselier as its lookout point, Saint-Brieuc Bay lifts the veil on a beautiful, plunging landscape by the sea, all the way to the Port du Légué – the launchpad for a visit to the historic city. Cliff faces, slipways, dunes and moors follow one after the other on the outskirts of town, and they all have their natural, nautical charm as well!

A heritage of granite and half-timbered houses

In the town centre, the stone and half-timbered houses around the fortress cathedral vie for attention. The Hotel du Ribault stakes its claim as the oldest house in town: its gables have been teetering over the paving stones since the 15th century, and there are plenty of other half-timbered houses gathered around Place Louis Guilloux, dating back to the 15th-17th centuries. You’ll stumble upon all kinds of wonderful sights as you stroll the narrow streets of the town: from 1930s’ Art Deco mosaic façades by Odorico to street art, covering entire façades. To find the grand shipowners’ houses and be in with a chance of glimpsing Le Grand Léjon, an old lugger (sailing vessel), you’ll need to go to Port du Légué, the entry port to the bay.

A path overlooking the waves

On the quays, you’ll be gripped with the desire to take to the sea. The Sentier des Douaniers (Customs Officers’ Path), otherwise known as the GR34, overlooks the sea and offers a great opportunity to enjoy the varied landscapes. It’s an invigorating walk – from all points of view – on the cliffs, from Pointe du Bec de Vir in Tréveneuc to Pointe des Guettes in Hillion, via Pointe de la Béchue in Pordic. The dunes of Bon Abri, the cove of Martin-Plage and the long Rosaires beach are bathed in turquoise water and inspire peace.

Lively, enchanting places to visit

Walk on water in the bay…at low tide anyway! The tide goes out more than 7 km here, revealing a foreshore that’s teeming with life – perfect for collecting shellfish! Look out for the wooden stakes rising from the seabed at the Pointe des Guettes, which are used for growing the famous rope-grown mussels. Enjoy the typical wildlife and plant life that lives quietly here among the salt marshes, rocks and sea. You can see 112 species of birds here, in Brittany’s biggest nature reserve. The Maison de la Baie discovery centre, perched on a rocky outcrop at Hillion, is a great introduction to the riches of this environment.

Land ahoy!

If you fancy a change of scenery, why not explore the walking and mountain-biking trails in the countryside? The Vau Madec valley is a lovely, shaded walk that meanders all the way to the coast, and it’s a feast for the senses: from moss green to ultramarine blue, from fresh woodland scents to salty sea breezes! At the heart of the countryside, a few minutes from Quintin, a Small Town of Character®, the Vallée des Peupliers walk takes you to Noë Sèche castle, while the Lande de Lanfains walk provides beautiful views. Are you a fan of cycling? There are 250 km of little routes and green routes with the Vélomaritime® label.

Fabulous food and a warm welcome

After a day exploring, swimming and enjoying the sea and countryside, you’ll be keen to relax in comfort, and Saint-Brieuc has just what you need – it’s brimming with attractive eateries, where you can sit on a terrace and enjoy delicious local produce prepared by chefs with Michelin stars or a great reputation – not to mention the many crêperies offering every type of Breton pancake. Top of the menu are ‘coquilles Saint-Jacques’, or king scallops: the crowning glory of the bay. So come and discover it all!

The tide goes out more than 7 km here, revealing a foreshore that’s teeming with life – perfect for collecting shellfish!

Did you know ?

Saint-Brieuc rocks!

Every year during Whitsun, since 1983, Art Rock has been rocking its enthusiastic crowds with headliner stars, emerging artists and new international acts. This multi-disciplinary festival is linked to the Rock’n Toques (Rock and Chefs) collective, so you can enjoy top-notch street food along with the great music!

Information & bookings

Tourist Office Saint-Brieuc


Plan your holiday

Getting there

Getting to Saint-Brieuc

Eurostar will get you to Paris from London in 2 hours 16 minutes, then, thanks to the high-speed line, it now only takes 2 hours 15 minutes to get from Paris-Montparnasse to Saint-Brieuc on the TGV intercity rail service, and only 2 hours 6 minutes on Friday evenings (not stopping at Rennes). By car, it takes just over an hour to drive from the ferry port at St Malo, about 1 hour 20 minutes from Roscoff ferry terminal, and, using the RN 12 toll-free dual carriageway, the journey from Rennes takes just one hour. Saint-Brieuc’s bus station is served by the long-distance bus companies Isilines, Flixbus and Ouibus.

Travelling in and around Saint-Brieuc

Saint-Brieuc has a good bus network, known as the TUB, which allows you to reach all parts of the town and its suburbs. In summer, you can easily get to the beaches on the shuttle buses Breizhgo that serve the seaside resorts of Binic-Etables-sur-mer, Saint-Quay-Portrieux and the Small Town of Character, Quintin. To discover a little more of the Côtes d’Armor, they also lead you tranquilly to Paimpol or Cap Fréhel.

Official website of tourism in Brittany
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