Tourism & Activities
Are you planning a holiday in Concarneau and looking for activities and a hotel in Concarneau? Look no further than Brit Hotel!
Discovering Concarneau
Welcome to Concarneau!
A maritime city and tourist destination par excellence, Concarneau is a Town of Art and History that attracts many visitors every year. The beauty and uniqueness of its walled town has made it a firm favourite with travellers from all over the world. This atypical fortress was built on an islet in the 15th century and was visited by a certain Vauban... Today, it is a tourist magnet, with a host of shops, restaurants, bars and clothing and souvenir boutiques keeping the narrow streets of the fortified town constantly bustling.
But Concarneau also has fine sandy beaches and a typical Breton cuisine based on seafood and crêpes! So much to see, smell and taste in this magnificent city during your stay in Concarneau!
Concarneau and the fishing industry
Concarneau owes its economic growth to the sea. From the 17th century onwards, soldiers and magistrates moved away from the Ville-close to manor houses in the surrounding parishes. They made way for merchants, whose trade links extended from Scandinavia to the Basque country and Languedoc. They brought in wood and roe from Norway, salt from Guérande, wine and brandy from Charente and Bordeaux, and offered pressed sardines and grain in exchange.
Dive into the world of fishing and discover a unique museum. The Musée de la Pêche (Fishing Museum), which has been designated a "Musée de France", is the instigator of the collection of maritime heritage and offers a diverse collection of boats, everyday objects and models to help you learn about and discover a major economic activity in Cornwall. The flagship of the collection, the "Hémérica", is moored at the museum quay. A visit to this boat, which underwent a major restoration campaign in 2014, is a plunge into the everyday life of the sailors, from the living areas to the gangway and fish hold.
How to visit Concarneau
The best way to visit Concarneau is to follow the collection of circuits "Au fil de la ville", which crosses the districts for a more complete discovery of Concarneau. The town centre, the seafront, the Ville Close and the Passage district are signposted with interpretation panels providing historical information on the sites, monuments and town planning.
But don't miss out on the must-see monuments and activities, such as the Château de Keriolet! Dating back to the 13th century, this superb neo-Gothic manor house was designed by architect Joseph Bigot in the late 19th century for Princess Zenaïde Narischkine, aunt of Russian Tsar Nicholas II. During the 20th century, the castle had several owners, including the princess's great-grandson, Prince Felix Yusupov, famous for his involvement in the assassination of a certain Rasputin...
And don't miss the Marinarium. This magnificent place invites you to discover the beauty of the marine world. Its exhibition is dedicated to the importance of the oceans and their extraordinary biodiversity, the world of plankton, the immense wealth of the coastline, and the protection and management of marine resources.