The 25+ Best Finistère Beaches
The name Finistère translates as 'the end of the earth' and this gives some idea of what France's most westerly département holds in store. Rich in history and culture this is the Breton heartland and was the last bastion of the Druids. This reinforces a mysterious and romantic air to this often wild and remote land.
Jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean, the often windswept and weather-worn Finistère coastline is a mixture of rugged coves and wide open sandy beaches. This is the longest coastline of any département at around 1,200 kilometres and offers a wealth of choice for beachgoers.
The granite headlands of the Crozon Peninsula take the full force of the winter swells and hide some of the region's most beautiful beaches in their shelter. Further south the landscape may be less dramatic but the beaches are just as lovely with popular areas such as Concarneau and Benodet drawing in the summer crowds. Whether you are just looking for a beautiful beach to relax on or some great surfing, Finistère has it all.
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1. Plage de L'ile Vierge
© Frédérique Voisin-Demery / CC BY Quite possibly the most stunning beach in Brittany, if not France, Plage de L'ile Vierge was once voted the "7th Most Beautiful beach in Europe". Set on the sheltered eastern side of Brittany's Crozon Peninsula the beach here is mostly pebbles backed by high white cliffs to which pine trees cling. The water here is a crystal clear turquoise - unfortunately it's about as cold as it looks! This… read more »
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2. Baie de Trépassés
charlotteinaustralia Great for:- Surfing
The beautiful unspoilt beach of Baie de Trépassés is tucked away behind the rugged Pointe du Raz, France's most westerly point. These jagged 70 metre cliffs not only provide a stunning backdrop but help protect the beach from the south-westerly winds. However, there is no getting away from the fact this is an exposed beach which often faces the full wrath of the Atlantic Ocean. The wide sandy beach is flanked by… read more »
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3. Plage de Morgat
GFreihalter Set on a sheltered section of the picturesque Crozon peninsula, the wide golden sand Plage de Morgat is one of the finest in Finistère. The beach is backed by the popular little holiday town of the same name. Once a sardine port, the village of Morgat grew into an elegant seaside resort over the 19th century and many fine beachfront buildings still exist from this period.
The beach itself is over… read more »
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4. Lostmarc'h
© Louboutinj / CC BY This sandy, Atlantic facing beach sits on the Crozon Peninsula barely a kilometer away from the Plage de L'ile Vierge on the opposite coast, yet the beaches could hardly be more different. You won't find any shelter from the ocean swells here and there are no trees to the back of the beach, just windswept dunes and heather strewn cliffs.
Lostmarc'h is well known as a surf spot, picking up… read more »
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5. Île-Tudy
Set just across the River Odet from the popular beach resort of Bénodet is this great crescent of white sand beach, backed by low dunes and lapped by clear blue ocean. Stretching nearly 5km from the upmarket yachty village of Sainte Marine to the sleepy seaside village of Île-Tudy this is well known as one of the best family friendly beaches in Brittany.
The ample sand here gently slopes into… read more »
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6. Plage de Pen Hat
Great for:- Surfing
The beach of Pen Hat is one of the most exposed on the Crozon Peninsula. Facing directly into the full force of the Atlantic Ocean the rolling waves can be very impressive. Whilst this is often great news for the surfers it adds to the beaches already dangerous reputation for swimming. In fact bathing here is prohibited due to the presence of what are locally referred to as "baïnes" - these… read more »
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7. Plage de Kloukoury
This secluded little beach is backed by the extensive sand dunes of Sainte Marguerite in Landéda. It sits towards the end of the Penn Enez headland and is almost always quiet.
Despite the lack of crowds this is a beautiful sandy crescent of sand backed by the gently sloping grassy dunes. There are views out over the numerous rocky islands that sit off the coast here. It is also a great spot to… read more »
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8. Plage de la Torche
Schorle Great for:- Fishing
- Surfing
- Kitesurfing
Situated on one of the most westerly headlands in mainland France, La Torche takes the full impact of the Atlantic weather. This wide, open crescent of fine sand is particularly windswept and has a truly wild feel to it with just sand dunes and fields beyond.
With all the wind and waves that batter the beach at La Torche it is perhaps unsurprising it is one of the premiere windsurf spots… read more »
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9. La Palue
Jeanne Menjoulet Great for:- Surfing
Loved by those seeking out the wilder reaches of France's Atlantic coast, Plage de la Palue lies on the western side of Brittany's Crozon Peninsula, close to its southernmost point of Cape de la Chèvre. Its wide expanse of yellow sand provides a powerful contrast to the crisp blues of the Atlantic, and the low cliffs that book end either side of the beach and create an atmosphere of seclusion.
Facing… read more »
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10. Plage de Gwendrez
© Havang(nl) Great for:- Surfing
One of the larger beaches on this stretch of the Brittany coastline, Plage de Gwendrez consists of a strip of fine pale sand descending gently into lagoon-like shallows.
Surrounded by an unspoilt landscape of gently rolling fields, access is via the attractive town of Plouhinec. Divided into a smaller northern and larger southern section by a low outcrop of rocks that are perfect for children to clamber over, this family-friendly beach… read more »
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11. Plage de Pors Péron
Moreau.henri Great for:- Swimming
Almost hidden below rugged cliffs covered in verdant grasses and wildflowers, the light-coloured sands of Plage de Pors Péron are situated on a small inlet in the cliffs around Cap Sizun, the most westerly point of mainland France.
Facing north onto the Baie de Douarnenez, the beach receives some protection from the full force of the Atlantic Ocean, which results in generally flat conditions for paddling and swimming during the… read more »
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12. Plage du Ris
Moreau.henri Great for:- Fishing
- Surfing
Plage du Ris is the biggest beach in Douarnenez and when the tide is out a huge expanse of sand is revealed. The beach is just to the north of the town but the surrounds are quite rural in feel.
To the rear of the beach is a large grassy area with picnic tables. There are also a number of traditional beach huts that hark back to the golden age of… read more »
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13. Plage de Théolen
Guillaume Mangeret The beach of Pors de Théolen is tucked away at the end of a small valley near Cap Sizun. This is a sheltered cove that was used for many years by fishermen. Those days are now gone but the beach is now popular with visitors, both local and holidaying.
Pors de Théolen itself is a mix of pebbles and sand above the high tide mark. However, as the tide goes out… read more »
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14. Plage de Pors-Carn
Jeanne Menjoulet Great for:- Swimming
- Surfing
Just north of Penmarch and close to hotels, museums, and other leisure activities, Plage de Pors-Carn lies in a small area of protected coastline where grassy dunes lead to wide near circular bay encompassing two kilometres of fine white sand.
Shielded from the largest waves of the Atlantic Ocean by the Pointe de la Rue de Flots at its southern end and the famed Pointe de la Torche at its… read more »
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15. Plage de Kermor
© Chris Leather Facing south, the almost straight ribbon of sand that is Plage de Kermor stretches for more than three kilometres, although it takes on a name change to Plage de Teven towards its western end. Located roughly midway between Sainte Marine port in Combrit and the quaint village of Île Tudy, the beach provides the perfect blend of natural majesty and ease of access. Free parking is available at several… read more »
