Camaret is an active fishing port (crayfish is the main catch) on a small peninsula jutting out to the far west of Finistere (Brittany region) beyond Crozon and on the Crozon peninsula.
The town has a very different nature according to when you visit, being quiet for much of the year then being transformed into a bustling local centre during the summer as the pleasure ports fill with boats, the coaches start to arrive, and holidaymakers fill the restaurants around the harbour.
Exploring Camaret
Although many visitors come to Camaret for the beaches and the scenic coastal scenery, the town is also a traditional fishing village with an active port and is pleasant to explore, with a few interesting highlights.
Vauban Tower
First among these is the the Vauban Tower, standing in the port on a substantial platform surrounded by a moat. The tower is an octagonal 17th century defensive tower built in red brick.
Unusually for such a recent fort the walls are pierced by narrow slits through which the troops could fire - more reminiscent of medieval castles than modern warfare techniques. The tower is open to the public (entrance charge 3 euros at the time of our visit)
(Vauban was the leading military engineer at that time and there are legacies in the form of his defences in many areas of France, now jointly listed as a UNESCO protected series of monuments.)
Chapel of Notre-dame of Rocamadour
Adjacent to the Vauban tower and still in the port area, and constructed from light yellow stone (unusual in Brittany where we expect to see grey granite buildings) is the 17th century Chapel of Notre-Dame-of-Rocamadour.
You will see that the top of the steeple is missing - it was knocked off by an cannon fired by the English in a battle here in 1694. Step inside and you will see the nautical theme of the chapel - you could almost be inside the hull of an upturned boat.
Prehistoric monuments
No visit to Brittany is complete without seeing some of the prehistoric dolmen and standing stones, and Camaret is no different.
Follow the road towards the Pointe de Pen Hir to see the 'Alignments of Lagatjar', an impressive array of 65 menhirs lined up towards the sea. No one can explain the reason for this formation, although it has been speculated that it has an astronomical explanation.
An impressive site - but it is known that originally there were many hundred of the stones here, most lost with the passage of time and vandalism over the centuries.
Camaret beaches
Of course, every visitor to Camaret will sooner or later want to spend time at the beach, and there is a good choice available in the vicinity, with fine sandy beaches often having rugged cliffs or sand dunes as a perfect backdrop.
The beach closest to the town was rather busy when we visited but it was easy to find a more peaceful spot on one of the other beaches nearby.
Other highlights
In Camaret, most life is focussed along the harbour and quays. There are a wide range of art galleries (most around Place Saint Thomas in the town centre), usually featuring paintings by artists living locally and inspired by the scenic surroundings, and a large number of restaurants, including plenty of sea food restaurants and creperies, the Brittany speciality.
There is also a small museum in the port area explaining the maritime history of Camaret.
Scenery around Camaret
There are plenty of places on the Finistere coast close to Camaret with stunning views. One in particular is the Pointe de Pen-Hir, where small peninsulas jut out to sea and a series of dramatic rocks break from the water (these are called 'the pile of peas' for reasons that aren't at all clear to me - they look more like rocks than peas...).
Follow a section of the coastal path to make the most of the views.
While you are here you should explore the other highlights of the Crozon peninsula.
See more seaside resorts in France. You can find more travel ideas in the Finistere guide and the Brittany guide.
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Map of Camaret and places nearby
Visit near Camaret with France This Way reviews
Crozon
The Crozon peninsula in western Brittany has an ideal combination of villages, coastline and beaches
Crozon guide
Morgat
The long sandy beach at Morgat has been the centre of activity here for more than 100 years, since the resort was first established
Morgat guide
Le Conquet
The surrounding rocky coastline is the main attraction here, and the village of Le Conquet itself is also pleasant to explore
Le Conquet guide
Armorique Regional Park
The Armorique regional park is a lovely way to enjoy the countryside of Brittany both on and away from the coast
Armorique Regional Park guide
Pont-Croix
The Collegiale Church of Notre-Dame de Roscudon and the narow surrounding streets are the highlight of your visit to Pont-Croix
Pont-Croix guide
Audierne
The picturesque harbour area and the proximity of beaches combine to endure the popularity of Audierne
Audierne guide... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Finistere
Address: Camaret-sur-Mer, Crozon, Châteaulin, Brittany, 29570, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 48.276, longitude -4.595
Plan your visit to Camaret, Finistere
Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby
- Camaret-sur-Mer tour dorée (Vauban fortifications): heritage site
- Pointe de Penhir: site of natural beauty (4 km)
- Baie de Douarnenez: site of natural beauty (4 km)
- Conservatoire botanique du Stangalac'h: remarkable garden (15 km)
- Brest: ville fleurie 4* (15 km)
- Presqu'île de Kermorvan: site of natural beauty (17 km)
- Océanopolis: aquarium (17 km)
- Saint-Renan: recommended detour (17 km)
- Plougastel-Daoulas: enclos-paroissial (20 km)
- Argol: enclos-paroissial (21 km)
- Armorique: regional natural parc (25 km)
- Menez-Hom: site of natural beauty (27 km)
The French version of this page is at Camaret (Francais)