Seaside resorts: our top 3
23! This is the number of fine sandy beaches spread over the coast of Dinan-Cap Fréhel. So many opportunities to bask in the sun, splash around by the water or enjoy an ice cream cone. And among the seaside resorts in Britain, we have selected 3 destinations that will conquer the hearts of apprentice sailors as well as seasoned captains. Here is our iodized selection for your next stopover in Brittany! So where are you going to drop anchor?
1- Saint-Cast-le-Guildo: the resort to create a sensation
For those who like challenges, the challenge and fill up on sensations: Saint-Cast-le-Guildo is your favorite resort! On land, on the green or in the water, it is perfect for learning about 1001 activities, between the bays of Arguenon and Fresnaye.
In addition to its golf courses, tree climbing and windsurfing spots, this seaside resort in Brittany is a joyful concentration of idyllic landscapes. Large expanses of sand, secret coves and exceptional panoramas dot the peninsula. 7 fine sandy beaches in total to learn about longe-coast or shore fishing.
The icing on the kouign amann? Sumptuous villas, picturesque mansions and adorable fishermen's houses litter the coast.
Must-see spots
- The lively district of Les Mielles, its beach and its many shops
- Pointe de la Garde with its breathtaking view of the Grande Plage and Pen Guen Beach
- The small Guildo marina, whose incomparable charm can be discovered at high tide
- Saint-Cast, Port d'Armor, starting point for numerous excursions to discover the Emerald Coast
Things are moving in the station
- Summer Volleyball, it's a beach volleyball tournament organized in several seaside resorts in Brittany every summer, for young and old, regulars or summer visitors!
- In summer, the Un air de Jazz festival makes Saint-Cast vibrate to the rhythm of the trumpets and velvet voices of renowned artists!
- The festival Make way for kids gives pride of place to the performing arts (and to children) during school holidays. On the program: puppets, clowns, acrobats and musicians!
2- Sables-d'Or-les-Pins: naturally golden
Like our two other Breton seaside resorts, Sables-d'Or-les-Pins is the ideal spot for an introduction to sand yachting or a seafood tasting. With its 3 kilometers of fine sand, its 1920s architecture and its wooded paths, it is the haunt of curious little ones and great adventurers.
In the shade of the pines, Anglo-Norman villas rub shoulders with Art Deco buildings, while on the beach, everyone indulges in their favorite activity. Are you more into swimming in emerald water, windsurfing or lazing on the hot sand? In any case, Sables-d'Or-les-Pins is your eldorado.
And if you are looking for an unusual way to visit this seaside resort in Brittany, go to the Allée des Acacias. This is where your Rosalie for a gentle ride on 4 wheels (and 100% eco-friendly)!
Must-see spots
- La Grève du Minieu, a huge golden beach, a paradise for kitesurfing enthusiasts
- The Diane Valley, a green setting where you can vibrate to the rhythm of concerts in summer
Things are moving in the station
- There too, the Estivales de Volley make beginners and initiates sweat!
- And as in Saint-Cast, a jazz festival brings this Breton seaside resort to life every summer!
- New for 2024: The Place aux mômes festival!
3- Saint-Jacut-de-la-Mer: land of fishermen
To the west, the bay of Arguenon, to the east, that of Lancieux. And from one to the other, 11 beaches with the air of paradise. Welcome to the peninsula of Saint-Jacut-de-la-Mer ! It will delight lovers of nature and water sports with its many fishing spots on foot and others conducive to sliding.
More curious than reckless? Unlock your smartphone and discover the peninsula and its maritime heritage with the Village-Rivages app (and it's free!). Two routes take you back in time. All you have to do is listen and let yourself be transported!
On the stone side, the charm operates in the former fishing village of Saint-Jacut-de-la-Mer, where the exhibition space of La Maison du Pêcheur awaits young and old to retrace the history of the village. What to put you in legs before starting the hiking on the GR34 (the customs trail for friends)! Unless you prefer to sit by the sea to taste a dozen or so oysters?
Must-see spots
- The exceptional view from the Pointe du Chevet
- The protected natural site of the Ébihens archipelago
Things are moving in the station
- The Trail des Ébihens is the meeting place for athletes in Saint-Jacut! Put on your bib and get ready: start on June 2, 2024! On the program: 20 km of running in an idyllic setting and a comforting sardinade at the finish.
The little iodized history of our seaside resorts
???? Ready for the culture minute?
While today it seems natural to take a dip and bask on the warm sand, it hasn't always been obvious. In the 18th century, only sea bathing (on medical prescription) was practiced on the beach. And it was Normandy, more accessible, which won the hearts of the Parisian bourgeois!
It was not until 1865, with the establishment of the Paris-Brest train line (and we are not talking about pastry!) that the seaside resorts of Brittany began to develop for sea bathing, reserved for the Parisian aristocracy.
Luxury hotels, tents and cabins spring up on the coast to accommodate these privileged people before tourism develops with the arrival of paid holidays in 1936! It was then that the seaside resorts in Brittany, as we know them today, were really born. We bet you can't wait to spread out your towel and put your feet up with a good book in your hands!
💡 Did you know?
- At the beginning of the 20th century, it took 14 hours by train to reach Saint-Cast from Paris. Just that !
- Sables-d'Or-les-Pins was classified as a seaside resort in 1954, Saint-Cast in 1969!
- The resort of Sables-d'Or-les-Pins owes its development to engineer Louis Harel de la Noë and real estate agent Roland Brouard!
- The treasure hunt Alfred's forgotten treasure allows you to discover the history of Saint-Cast. The kit is available in our tourist offices!