The little port of Audierne, in a sheltered bay, is still actively involved in the fishing industry and it’s restaurants are full of France’s freshest fish. Little multicoloured fishing boats bob on the quays, awaiting the next tide. Audierne is still not a major tourist destination, so it is an ideal place to witness an unspoilt Brittany port. Lose yourself in its tiny back streets, the picturesque white houses with their brightly coloured shutters will enchant you. In la rue de l’Amiral Guépratte, go into La Chaumière – a thatched house which has kept all of its 17th century furnishings, where locals will explain old traditions and objects to you. It’s a museum, officially, but it doesn’t seem like one.
Audierne is a great place from which to begin visiting the bay. Thousands of seabirds call this home, and there are many beaches. There is one of the oldest lighthouses in Brittany at the south of the bay, covered in little granite sculptures.
La Pointe de la Torche is a peninsular with archaeological remains dating back to the first Armoricans, and has more recently become a windsurfing and surfing destination that is known throughout the world. Competitions are held here, and the local children hit the water after school to learn the tricks of the trade with world champions.
So you’ll find ancient and modern Brittany blended together here in Audierne.
This article is copyrighted by Visit Bretagne
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