Discover Finistere: Coast, nature and culture

Hiking and cycling in many forms

Finistere’s coastline measures 2,263 kilometres. There are 6,200 kilometres of hiking trails. A further 6,300 kilometres of marked routes are designated for hiking, horse riding and mountain biking; 4,300 kilometres are listed in the departmental plan for hiking and walking trails. These figures describe different categories and give you an idea of the range of routes available for planning. Before a coastal hike or fishing, the Parc naturel régional d’Armorique recommends checking the weather, route choices and tide times.

There are also different types of routes for cycling. More than 900 kilometres of departmental cycle paths have adapted signage, markings in both directions and safety improvements. Over 100 kilometres of voies vertes run along former railway lines. These former railways offer a setting of their own for a cycling trip, while the marked routes also include horse riding and mountain biking.

Moorlands, lakes and geological history

In Finistere, the Parc naturel régional d’Armorique stretches through the Monts d’Arrée, the Aulne Valley, the Bay of Brest, the Crozon Peninsula and the Iroise Islands. Covering more than 10,000 hectares, it is home to France’s largest Atlantic heathland complex and Brittany’s largest peat bog complex. The landscape can also be explored through its waters: Lac de Saint-Michel and Lac du Drennec are the two largest reservoirs in Finistere.

Those interested in coastal and marine nature will find another dimension in the Réserve naturelle nationale d’Iroise. It covers 1,129 hectares, including 1,008 hectares of the public maritime domain. At the Armorique UNESCO Global Geopark, the story of the Earth spans more than 500 million years between the Crozon Peninsula and the Monts d’Arrée. More than 400 sea caves along the Crozon Peninsula are considered accessible on foot or by kayak.

Activities and cultural heritage

Visitor activities at the Parc naturel régional d’Armorique range from hiking and cycling to horse rides and experiences in, on and above the water. A visitor route along the maritime Aulne combines a traditional sailing crossing with cycling, hiking and kayaking. This brings several ways of getting around together within one travel idea, without requiring a fixed itinerary.

The region’s tangible heritage is also part of the discovery: the Parc naturel marin d’Iroise preserves lighthouses, wrecks and archaeological sites. An interactive display at the Sémaphore de Molène explains the daily life and duties of the island’s keepers. Across the department, Finistere has around fifteen museums, cultural sites and historic places. For a trip that brings nature and history together, you can put together a selection of landscapes, routes and cultural themes.

Local cuisine and choosing a hotel

A local culinary speciality is Kouign plaked de Penmarc’h, considered a buttery, flaky variation on the famous Breton cake. Producers in the Parc naturel régional d’Armorique use short food supply chains and sell products at their farms or local markets. These details add regional food culture to the landscape and cultural themes.

Then tailor your search to the places and activities you actually want to include in your trip.

Discover more destinations: Hanvec, Ouessant, Saint-Coulitz, Saint-Derrien, Goulien, Goulven, Roscoff, Rosporden, Roscanvel, Pencran, Lennon, Kerlaz, Plobannalec-Lesconil, Arzano, Ile-De-Sein, Rosnoën, Le Cloître-Saint-Thégonnec, Landévennec, Brignogan, Lanhouarneau, Edern, Guimiliau, Milizac, La Roche-Maurice, Trégarvan, Lannéanou, Laz, Confort-Meilars, Saint-Urbain, Port-Launay, Trébabu, Langolen, Berrien, Pouldergat, Tréguennec, Terenez, Le Ponthou, Locmélar, Bohars, Saint-Méen, Lopérec, Tourch, Le Tréhou, Le Trévoux, Plonéis, Guengat, Mespaul, Le Juch, Loc-Eguiner, Daoulas, Bourg-Blanc, Dinéault, Motreff, Bolazec, Plougar, Le Drennec, Irvillac, Landrévarzec, Le Cloître-Pleyben, Kernilis, Tréouergat, Plounéventer, Locmaria-Plouzané, Querrien, Pont-Croix, Guiclan, Guiler-Sur-Goyen, Guipavas, Guipronvel, Guisseny, Henvic, Huelgoat, Île-Tudy, Kerlouan, Kernouës, L'aber-Wrach, La Feuillee, La Forêt-Fouesnant, Lampaul-Plouarzel, Lampaul-Ploudalmézeau, Lanarvily, Landeda, Landeleau, Landudec, Landunvez, Lanildut, Lanmeur, Lannilis, Lanriec, Lanrivoaré, Lanvéoc, Le Conquet, Le Faou, Le Folgoet, Le Relecq-Kerhuon, Lesneven, Leuhan, Lilia, Locquenole, Locquirec, Locronan, Loctudy, Logonna-Daoulas, Loperhet, Melgven, Moëlan-Sur-Mer, Morlaix, Nevez, Penmarc'h, Pleuven, Pleyben, Plounéour-Trez, Plounevez-Lochrist, Plouégat-Guérand, Plouégat-Moysan, Plouenan, Plouescat, Plouezoch, Plougastel-Daoulas, Plougonvelin, Plougonven, Plougoulm, Plouguerneau, Plouguin, Plouider, Plouigneau, Ploumoguer, Plounéour-Ménez, Elliant, Esquibien, Fouesnant, Garlan, Gouesnach, Gouézec, Landerneau, Quéménéven, Locmaria-Berrien, Cast, Guilvinec, Coat-Méal, Saint-Servais, Île-De-Batz, Brélès, Trégarantec, Plonévez-Du-Faou, Tréméoc, Plouhinec, Poullaouen, Mahalon, Ploéven, Locunolé, Hôpital-Camfrout, Brennilis, Plouyé, Plouvorn, Cléden-Poher, Plabennec, Kersaint-Plabennec, Loqueffret, Guilers, Argenton, Argol, Audierne, Beg Meil, Bénodet, Beuzec-Cap-Sizun, Botsorhel, Brest, Briec, Camaret-Sur-Mer, Cap Coz, Carantec, Châteauneuf-Du-Faou, Cléden-Cap-Sizun, Cleder, Clohars-Carnoët, Clohars-Fouesnant, Combrit, Commana, Concarneau, Coray, Crozon, Châteaulin, Rédené, Scaër, Guimaëc, Peumérit, Saint-Hernot, Saint-Jean-Du-Doigt, Saint-Jean-Trolimon, Saint-Pabu, Saint-Pol-De-Léon, Saint-Renan, Saint-Thégonnec, Saint-Thurien, Sainte-Sève, Santec, Sibiril, Sizun, Taule, Telgruc-Sur-Mer, Treflez, Trégana, Plougasnou, Tréglonou, Tregunc, Tréméven, Treogat, Trezien, Saint Yvi, Bannalec, Baye, Guilligomarc'h, Plouzévédé, Trévignon, Tregourez, Pont-De-Buis-Les-Quimerch, Loc-Brévalaire, Primelin, Quimper, Quimperlé, Dirinon, Douarnenez, Riec-Sur-Belon, Plourin Les Morlaix, Plouvien, Plouzane, Plovan, Plozevet, Pluguffan, Pont-Aven, Treffiagat, Scrignac, Botmeur, Brasparts, Saint-Martin-Des-Champs, Landivisiau, Lampaul-Guimiliau, La Forest-Landerneau, Spézet, Ergué-Gabéric, Plourin, Saint-Nic, Pont-L'abbé, Porspoder, Pouldreuzic, Poullan-Sur-Mer, Saint Evarzec, Saint-Cadou, Plogastel-Saint-Germain, Plogoff, Plogonnec, Plomelin, Plomeur, Plomodiern, Ploneour-Lanvern, Plonévez-Porzay, Plouarzel, Ploudalmézeau, Ploudaniel, Plouédern, Pleyber-Christ, Carhaix-Plouguer, Saint-Éloy, Gouesnou, Guerlesquin, Mellac

For the broader travel overview: Brittany.