Le Faou

Visit Le Faou, Brittany

The picturesque village of Le Faou is towards the western end of Brittany, at the north-eastern corner of the Crozon peninsula and south-west of Brest. It is listed among the most beautiful villages in France and within the boundaries of the Armorique Regional Natural Parc..

Exploring Le Faou

You will perhaps discover Le Faou almost by accident when you are passing on your way to the Crozon peninsula, as we did. We recommend that you stop for a look around the village.

Activity in the centre of Le Faou is focussed around its harbour, as it has been for hundreds of years, although nowadays you are more likely pleasure boats and groups of tourists than gangs of labourers loading wood from the nearby forests onto ships! The buildings in the historic village were built using wealth gained from this trade, typically in the 16th century.

Although Le Faou small, the buildings in the centre are very interesting, with many of them built in stone and with wooden facades covered in vertically placed slates.

Houses where the upper stories protrude over the ground floor in this way are called 'maisons à encorbellement' and can be seen in many places in France with intact medieval centres. In Le Faou most of these houses are grouped together along the main street in the village centre.

There is also an interesting 16th century church in Le Faou (the Church of Saint-Sauveur), with an unusual decorative belltower and containing an ornately carved medieval baptism font.

The guided walk around the village will take you passed this church, along the harbour, and also past the most interesting buildings in the village.

Attractions nearby

Most visitors to Le Faou will also want to visit Rumengol to see the the Church of Notre-Dame. Rumengol is only two kilometres from here and the church has several notable features such as the carvings of the 12 apostles in the entrance and an imposing altarpiece.

Close to hand you can explore the pathways in the Forest of Cranou, while the surrounding area has numerous sightseeing opportunities - see Armorique Natural Park for details (includes the Crozon peninsula to the west of Le Faou).

See Brittany and Finistere (the region and department for Le Faou) for more travel ideas...

Suggested places to visit near Le Faou, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Douarnenez 25km; Morgat 25km; Camaret 31km; Quimper 34km; Pont-Croix 36km; Audierne 40km; Morlaix 41km; Le Conquet 45km; Saint-Pol-de-Leon 45km; Plouezoch 47km; Benodet 47km;

Le Faou tourist information: sights and attractions nearby

Menez-Hom - site of natural beauty (9km) : Conservatoire botanique du Stangalac'h - remarkable garden (25km) : Brest - ville fleurie 4* (25km) : Parc du château de Trévarez - remarkable garden (32km) : Pointe de Penhir - site of natural beauty (33km) : Arboretum de Poërop - remarkable garden (33km) : Baie de Douarnenez - site of natural beauty (33km) : Jardin du château de Lanniron - remarkable garden (34km) :

See more places and a map at places near Le Faou