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Cancale

Visit Cancale (Brittany, France)

Cancale is a town on the northern coast of Brittany to the east of Saint Malo where it is at the start of the section of coast known as the Emerald Coast.

The town has built a reputation due to the oyster beds that are along the coast and round the harbour at Cancale and is best known as being the oyster capital of Brittany. Cancale oysters have been famous for at least 2000 years since the days when they were eaten by the soldiers of Julius Caesar and later when they were delivered daily to Louis XIV.

Cancale oysters are thought to be some of the best available. In 1994 Cancale was classified as a ‘Site remarquable du goût’, a town remarkable for the taste of its oysters! Cancale produces 5000 tons of oysters farmed in its ‘parks’ in the bay and 1000 tons fished from the bay generally.

Exploring Cancale

Start your visit to Cancale on the seafront with a walk around the harbour and then on to the pier and see the oyster beds stretching as far as the eye can see, all seven square kilometres of them!

The harbour (at La Houle) is surrounded by pretty old fishing houses (many of them now restaurants and shops) and the highlight of a visit - there are numerous restaurants in Cancale where you can sample the local produce, especially the 'oversized' oysters for which the region is best known.

There are also a few stalls on the sea-front selling the oysters each day and the town also has a 'Museum of Oysters'.

Behind the harbour, the small town of Cancale is a traditional fishing town with granite houses clustered around the 18th century Church of Saint-Méen.

There are also several beaches to be found near Cancale - for example the attractive Plage de Port-Mer.

Attractions nearby

After exploring Cancale, head out on foot along the Sentier des Douaniers to the headland at Pointe du Gruoin for a good view across to Mont Saint Michel, and as far as Granville and Cap Fréhel.

The abbey at Mont-Saint-Michel is of course an indispensable part of a visit to Cancale, with a visit to the historic town of Dol-de-Bretagne also highly recommended.

Photos of Cancale

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Address: Cancale, Saint-Malo, Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany, 35260 || GPS: latitude 48.6794, longitude -1.82639

Map of Cancale & places nearby



 

Highlights close by

More suggestions: Mont-Saint-Michel 24km; Granville 24km; Dinan 30km; Combourg 31km; Plancoet 35km; Cap Frehel 40km;

See lots more places to visit nearby and a more detailed map at places near Cancale.
See Brittany and Ille-et-Vilaine (the region and department for Cancale) for more travel ideas...

Suggested tourist attractions to visit near Cancale, France

• Pointe du Grouin - site of natural beauty (4km)
• Saint-Malo - ville fleurie 4* (15km)
• Dinard - town of art and history (18km)
• Jardins de Montmarin - remarkable garden (20km)
• Mont-Saint-Michel (monuments on French pilgrim routes) - heritage site (24km)
• Baie du Mont Saint-Michel - grand site of france (24km)
• Granville - recommended detour (24km)
• Dinan - recommended detour (30km)
• Jardins du château de la Bourbansais - remarkable garden (32km)
• Jardin du château de La Ballue - remarkable garden (34km)

Market days in Cancale: Regular market(s) are held in Cancale each Sunday. (Markets are held in the morning unless stated.)

The French version of this page is at Cancale (Francais)