Discover Plougastel-Daoulas

In Plougastel-Daoulas, you can incorporate cultural history and nature into your travel plans in different ways: the archaeological rock shelter of Le Rocher de l’Impératrice, the Musée du Pays Plougastel, local customs and walking trails each offer a distinct focus. So, if you are looking for a hotel for your stay, it is worth first considering whether your main interest is archaeology and local history, traditions, or trails and habitats. The following topics show how these focuses differ.

Archaeology and local history

Le Rocher de l’Impératrice is an archaeological rock shelter in Plougastel-Daoulas. About 14,000 years ago, it was inhabited repeatedly by small communities. Several dozen slate slabs bearing animal engravings have been preserved; the engravings are described as the oldest traces of their kind in Brittany. The site thus brings together two closely connected aspects of prehistory: the repeated use of a rock shelter and figurative depictions on slate. While the shelter provides a connection to the lives of small communities, the animal engravings make specific motifs tangible.

Museum and traditional customs

The Musée du Pays Plougastel is located in the centre of Plougastel-Daoulas. It presents the history of the commune, its strawberry-growing tradition and the traditional costumes once worn by the people of Plougastel. The visit is designed to be immersive, interactive and accessible, and also conveys the traditions and craftsmanship of Plougastel. The museum has reopened with a completely renovated visitor route.

The games listed in the Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage include the game of Péchou and the jeu de quilles. Breuriez is a ceremony involving an apple tree that takes place on All Saints’ Day. These customs offer a different perspective from the archaeological finds: the focus here is on named games and a ceremony with a specific occasion. The Fête des Fraises also celebrates the strawberry. It has been held every year on the second Sunday in June for 80 years. The festival includes a parade of floats, Celtic circles and bagadoù. If you would like to plan your stay around the Fête, check the event date before booking.

Trails and habitats

Protected natural habitats in Plougastel-Daoulas include dry coastal heaths, mudflats and salt marshes, damp woodlands and wet valley meadows, as well as rocky intertidal shores, maërl beds and seagrass meadows. The variety thus ranges from coastal and wetland areas to habitats in the intertidal zone. This is a distinct aspect of nature to consider when planning your trip, alongside archaeological sites and traditional customs.

The GR34 passes through the north of the commune; there are also numerous walking trails where you can discover natural and historical heritage. The Boucle Toull ar Ranig near Sainte-Christine is a hiking trail in Plougastel-Daoulas. The Sentier Les rives de l’Elorn-St Jean is a walking and hiking trail. To choose between the different types of route, it helps to distinguish between them: the Boucle Toull ar Ranig is identified as a hiking trail, while the Sentier Les rives de l’Elorn-St Jean includes both walks and hikes. Plougastel-Daoulas is also connected to the Armorique UNESCO Global Geopark via the Parc naturel régional d’Armorique; this connection adds a regional nature context to the specific trails and habitats.

Discover more destinations: Guiclan, Île-De-Batz, Brest, Le Relecq-Kerhuon, Lanriec, Le Cloître-Saint-Thégonnec, Ploneour-Lanvern, Pont-Aven

For the regional travel overview: Finistere.