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Ile Molene

Molene is a small island - or rather part of a group called the Ouessant Islands - off the far western tip of Brittany. Ouessant is slightly further west, and is larger than Molene. The islands are the only two inhabited in the group, and are part of the Parc Régional d'Armorique.

The islands are reached by ferry from Le Conquet or Brest.

20km from the French mainland, neither of the islands seem a particularly tempting place to live, but between them they do have a few hundred brave inhabitants. It is above all the diversity of wildlife that makes the Ouessant group remarkable - this wind and sea battered archipelago of islands and islets has been listed as a World Bioshpere Reserve for its plant and animal life.

Molène

A walk around the island of Molene - which covers less than 1 square kilometre - doesn't take long and is well worth doing, both to appreciate the island itself, and for views out across the other islands in the group.

There are no cars on the island, electricity is generated on the island itself, and rainwater is retained for use by the population.

The 'Museum of Drummond Castle' on the island commemorates the efforts of the islanders to help the sinking ship of that name in 1896. There is also an exhibition of the natural history of the Ouessant islands.

Ouessant

Also rather barren at first glance, Ouessant is larger than Molene.

The main 'sight' on the island is the Church of Saint-Pol Aurélien, at Lampaul the only town of note on the island. You will visit rather for the feeling of being in the last outpost of France, in a fascinatingly wild environment. There are lots of walks and paths around the island which, remarkably given its location, attracts more than 100,000 visitors each year.

The amazing scenery, rock formations, and constant battle with the sea make it a particularly interesting place to spend some time.

There are a few lighthouses - including Stiff Lighthouse, constructed in 1669, and Créac'h Lighhouse, apparently the most powerful in the world.

Ile Molene: tourist information, map, travel plans and gites

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Places to visit - Ile Molene

Explore places within about 70 kilometres on a map at Visit Ile Molene.

Some of the closer places are listed below (distances from Ile Molene are approximate and direct - as the crow flies. Only places listed on the france this way site are shown!)

• Le Conquet Finist?re fishing village at 20 km
• Armorique Regional Park Regional Parc at 21 km

 

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