Erquy is a small resort on the Cote de Penthièvre, part of the Bay of Saint-Brieuc on the north coast of Brittany.
Explore Erquy
France This Way review: Erquy is a small resort but has access nearby to several very impressive sandy beaches, making it a popular destination for families - persionally we would find it rather too quiet to be used as a centre for a visit, but if your only reason to visit is to have access to a big sandy beach Erquy could be ideal!
Although the beaches are the main attraction for visitors, Erquy also has a small town centre with the small shops and cafes you would expect in a seaside resort. The main streets for these are Rue Foch and Rue Clemenceau, in the area around the church. Erquy tourist office is on rue du 19 Mars 1962.
Apart from the town centre, the centre of activity in Erquy is the area to the north where there is a large port which holds numerous small boats, and a viewpoint on the promontory that separates the leisure port from the fishing port. The fishing port is reputed for the clams and coquilles Saint-Jacques that ae the principal catch (predominantly in winter).
You can also see several impressive villas near the coast and smaller stone cottages in the centre of Erquy and around the port, although our favourite group of cottages here is a few hundred metres north of the centre at Tu-Es-Roc, an older more traditional part of the town.
The main beach is next to the town centre and called the Plage du Centre. It is a long sandy beach that slopes very gently to the sea.
Other sandy beaches are found in both directions from here, with two lovely beaches to the south-west in the direction of Le Val-André and other smaller beaches to the north, around the Cap d'Erquy. Parking is easiest in the town centre, where there are several carparks right next to the beach.
About one kilometre north of Erquy town centre you can walk out to the Cap d'Erquy. This is a large promontory with beautiful views across the rocky areas, the beaches, the sand dunes and the sea, and a walk that is recommended when you visit Erquy (even if you are not visiting Erquy you should come to see the Cap d'Erquy when you are nearby).
Attractions nearby
From Erquy you can take excursions on a boat, with the shorter route going around Cap d'Erquy and the longer route continuing to Cap-Fréhel. We recommend the longer trip because of the lovely views of the cliffs around Cap-Fréhel. The longer route takes about two hours and costs around 21 euros (14 euros for children under 13 years old, free for children under three years old).
A short distance south you can visit the resort of Le Val-André, which is larger and more lively than Erquy, and further south you can explore Saint-Brieuc, a large town with some charming medieval houses in the centre.
To the north (beyond Sables-d'Or-les-Pins and about 15 kilometres from Erquy) the main attraction is the viewpoint at Cap-Fréhel, with excellent views along the cliffs and beaches of the coast in both directons.
See more seaside resorts in France. You can find more travel ideas in the Cotes-d'Armor guide and the Brittany guide.
Photos of Erquy
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Map of Erquy and places nearby
Visit near Erquy with France This Way reviews
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Address: Erquy, Pléneuf-Val-André, Saint-Brieuc, Brittany, 22430, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 48.6325, longitude -2.4630555
Plan your visit to Erquy, Cotes-d'Armor
Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby
- Cap d'Erquy / Cap Frehel: grand site of france
- Le Grand-Pourier: site of natural beauty (5 km)
- Îlot du Verdelet: site of natural beauty (7 km)
- Cap Frehel: site of natural beauty (12 km)
- Baie de Saint-Brieuc: site of natural beauty (15 km)
- Îlot de la Colombière: site of natural beauty (19 km)
- Baie de Lancieux, baie de l'Arguenon, archipel de Saint-Malo et Dinard: site of natural beauty (22 km)
- Cézembre: site of natural beauty (29 km)
- Dinard: town of art and history (30 km)
- Jardins de Montmarin: remarkable garden (30 km)
- Embouchure - Rance: site of natural beauty (31 km)
- Rance (fleuve): site of natural beauty (31 km)
Market days in Erquy, France
Regular market(s) are held in Erquy each Saturday. (Markets are held in the morning unless stated.)
The French version of this page is at Erquy (Francais)