Plougrescant: Coast, Hiking Trails and Heritage

Plougrescant combines striking coastal formations with hiking trails and buildings from different eras. When planning your stay, you can choose between nature-focused activities, a circular walk, multi-day hiking and historic sites. The coastal landscape includes both lagoons and heathland and rocky scenery; the heritage sites offer a different focus.

Coast and landscape

The Site du Gouffre de Castel Meur consists of three shingle ridges enclosing two brackish-water lagoons. The ridges connect the lagoons to the sea; at the same time, the lagoons are of particular botanical importance. The site is part of the Conservatoire de l’Espace Littoral area. Pors Scaff is also part of this area.

At Pors Scaff, hikers experience changing landscapes of heathland and rocks along Plougrescant’s wild, rugged coast. The tides and light constantly change the scenery. The lagoons enclosed by shingle ridges at the Site du Gouffre and the changing heathland and rocky landscapes at Pors Scaff thus represent different coastal settings. La Pointe du Château is described as the northernmost point of northern Brittany.

Hiking at your own pace

The Circuit du Gouffre is an easy 10.2-kilometre circular trail starting in Plougrescant; walking time is about three hours. The distance and approximate walking time give you an idea of the effort involved. Check trail conditions before setting out.

Plougrescant is also a stop on the GR®34. A multi-day hike along the Côte d’Ajoncs to Perros-Guirec can be started from the village. The two options differ clearly in the time they require: the Circuit takes about three hours to walk, while the GR®34 hike is designed to take several days. This lets you choose between a single circular walk and a longer hike based on the time you have available.

Architecture and history

The Chapelle Saint-Gonéry has an 11th-century tower and a Romanesque western section. The chapel contains remarkable Romanesque ceiling paintings depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments. The architecture and the paintings give the chapel two distinct historical points of interest.

Thanks to a team of volunteers, free visits are available, either self-guided or with a guide. Visits depend on the team’s availability. If you plan to visit, check in advance whether a tour is available. The Fontaine Saint-Gonéry was built in 1682 and is listed as a historic monument. The dovecote at Lezernan has partially collapsed on the side facing away from the road, but remains a testament to the town’s former seigneurie.

Nature topics at the Maison du Littoral

The Maison du Littoral offers an extensive program of events throughout the year. These include activities focused on birdwatching, exploring the tidal zone and geology, as well as identifying coastal plants and butterflies. Activities and dates may change. If you have a particular topic or time period in mind, check the current selection in advance. The Maison du Littoral also regularly hosts exhibitions on local wildlife and plant life; the specific exhibitions on offer may vary.

Discover more destinations: Plésidy, Plouër-Sur-Rance, Mégrit, Fréhel, Saint-Glen, Lezardrieux, Pléven, Ruca

For the regional travel overview: Côtes-D’armor.