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Welcome to Saint-Briac sur mer
Strongly influenced by its maritime history, Saint-Briac has kept the enchantment of an ancient village of sailors and that of a seaside resort. This little harbour has witnessed the birth of many Cap-Horners and Newfoundland fishermen and has also inspired many renowned artists.
How about a stop at Saint-Briac? The birth register has records (since its creatio
n in 1792) of 198 commanding officers, 350 near-sea captains, 230 bark officers and the biggest transatlantic passenger liners were commanded by officers born in Saint-Briac.
Auguste Renoir, Henri Rivière, Emile Bernard and many others also stayed there and were at the origin of the famous "Chemin des peintres", a loop of more than 10 kilometres boasting breathtaking panoramas.
From harbours to beaches
The maritime and artistic vocation of the village finds its roots in its natural and architectural heritage : the coastal cliffs planted with heath, gorse, broom and sloe trees alternate with indentations sheltering beaches and coves. 10 well oriented beaches (only the northern coast is missing, who would complain from this characteristics…on the north coast?). The discovery of the benefits of bathing in the 19th century (greatest tides take place there) brought to name the beaches after dry harbours, such as “port de la Garde”, “Port-Hue”, “port aux Chevaux”, “Béchet”, or after salt trade activities, such as “Grande Salinette” and “Petite Salinette”.
From the Garde-Guérin (listed site overlooking a more than 50-year old golf on the sea shore which offers a magnificent view from Cap Fréhel to the Meinga point and the Channel Islands), you are invited to follow the laces of dunes planted with marram grass, the 700-mooring marina and to go along the Ness
ay peninsula, a wonderful site observation facing the mouth of the Frémur: the landwaiter paths mingle with those of the painters.
Then, after the walk up the shores of the Frémur, you arrive at Rochegoude tidal mill: you have then discovered the huge diversity of our coast and the enchantment of a country of sea, scents, winds and changing sky.
Walking as time goes by
On the way back from the pilgrimage to the “Chapelle de l’épine”, you will cross some of the 50 villages scattered over the 8.000.000 square meters of our village and you will end in the maze of small streets in the centre: the 17th century bell tower (listed as an historical monument), the 18th century captains houses, the Ruettes alley, the Boulevard de la mer and its seaside villas, the stele of the sculptor Armel Beaufils who was dedicated to Victoria Mélita, the arch-duchess of Russia (the Romanov family stayed for 40 years at Saint-Briac after the Bolshevik revolutionFrom then one, you have one desire only: coming back and maybe dropping anchor in this authentic and preserved little heaven.).
