Bonsoir les bichettes!
I’m delighted to be back at my computer this evening to share my little Finistère addresses with you! I have to admit, I was in a real hurry for my sweetheart’s birthday. So it was totally by chance that I finally chose this little corner of Brittany. As we were doing the Pont de l’Ascension, we had 3 days and two nights to make the most of the department.
St Pol de Léon and the islet of Ste Anne
Before going to visit Roscoff and discover Batz Island, we made a first stop at the accommodation I had booked in St Pol de Léon on Airbnb. The 3 separate rooms of the house offered by Gaël and Florence are very pleasant, functional and tastefully decorated. The paintings on the walls are by the owner himself! As for breakfast, it’s worthy of a hotel, and here again, crêpes and far breton are homemade to the delight of travelers 🙂
Near this little house, the islet of Ste Anne offers a charming stroll, where you can admire the kite-surfers and windsurfers. Yes, this is one of Finistère’s most famous windsurfing and kite-surfing spots.
Don’t leave the city without visiting the Cathédrale Saint-Paul-Aurélien, which is well worth a visit!
The island of Batz, by bicycle…
Located just fifteen minutes from Roscoff by boat in fine weather, the island offers a real change of scenery!
However, when the weather is fine, many people want to take advantage of the crossing, so if you can, buy your tickets (round-trip fare: 9 euros) the day before to save time, and check the timetables on the island’s website.
Personally, I preferred to rent bikes to have time to visit everything rather than do it on foot. I think it’s more fun 🙂 If you’d like to do that too, I’d definitely recommend the one I went through: François Le Saout bike hire. They’re right next to the pier, which is very convenient for both arrivals and departures!
Then let your desires guide you!
For the end of the morning, we headed for the Lighthouse, the Roc’h and the Lavoir. From the Roc’h, the view is just magnificent for a 360° panorama.
Before heading back to the restaurant for lunch, we took the time to visit the small villages in the north of the island, where we took some great photos and met some interesting people…!
For lunch, I had taken the trouble to make a reservation, and I was right to do so! The restaurants were packed. I recommend the crêperie“La Cassonnade“, before 2pm to take advantage of the menu (afterwards, the management gives you a limited menu). The crêpes and galettes are delicious. You can feel that the products used are fresh and local (the mushrooms, for example).
After lunch, to digest, we went for a siesta on the Grève Blanche beach.
Terribly relaxing before a final exotic excursion: a visit to the Georges Delaselle Garden, featuring an exceptional botanical collection from all five continents.
Even though I’m not a fan of flowers, I always enjoy visiting this type of garden and discovering plants, each more original than the last. The view from the garden towards Roscoff is also a real spot for pretty panoramas.
Back on dry land, we headed for Brigognan-Plage (about 40 min from Roscoff).
Hôtel de la Mer, Brignogan-Plage
My love had always dreamed of trying out a “sea view” hotel, so I made that dream come true by treating her to a night at the charming Hôtel de la Mer. The special thing about this place is that it’s located right on the coast. All the rooms offer a breathtaking view of the ocean, and the sound of the waves that goes with it! Magical, really. The other thing that attracted me to this hotel was its eco-responsible approach (wood-fired boiler, rainwater recovery, seaweed paint…).
After checking into our room, we took advantage of the hotel’s wellness area, which boasts a Jacuzzi, hammam and sauna, while enjoying a cup of tea. We really enjoyed the moment of relaxation, especially as we were alone!
In the evening, we chose to dine at the hotel restaurant “Le Pontusval”, as the menu offered homemade dishes using the finest local produce and a starter-main course-dessert menu at 33 euros. The cuisine is refined and seasonal, and the restaurant offers a sober, contemporary setting that’s very romantic, especially as after dinner you can borrow plaids to watch the sun set over the sea.
The next morning, in the breakfast room facing the sea, we enjoyed a real Brunch before hitting the road again. In addition to the traditional sweet breakfast (in this case, Far Breton), the hotel’s buffet included oysters, smoked fish and Breton charcuterie.
I was really delighted to discover this hotel and warmly recommend it. For a romantic weekend, it’s really ideal 😉
I hope you’ve enjoyed this little Finistère getaway and, above all, that it’s inspired you to visit the area!
Don’t hesitate to send me your remarks and comments, and if you’ve visited this area, you’ll also have some good addresses to share – that’s what this blog is for!
See you soon!
