What to see in France

Locronan, discover one of the most beautiful villages in Finistère on a campsite

Village de Locronan en Bretagne
Village de Locronan en Bretagne

 

In Brittany and Finistère, the village of Locronan has been awarded the label of the Most Beautiful Villages in France thanks to its tourist attractions and, in particular, its high-quality heritage. With its Eutrope fountain, Saint Ronan church, Notre-Dame-de-Bonne-Nouvelle chapel and pretty Renaissance granite houses, Locronan is a member of the Petites Cités de Caractère network. These are just some of the many assets that attract 500,000 visitors a year, and may well make you want to take refuge in one of the campsites where you can discover this village listed as a historic monument.

Campsites in Locronan

Campsite Finistère sud

 

There are several campsites around the village of Locronan, but only one on site. Several campsites offer walks starting from the campsite to explore one of France's most beautiful villages and its architectural heritage.

3-star campsites in Brittany - Camping Locronan mobil home - Camping de Locronan 29

Campsite Locronan *** Open from April to September, the village of Locronan is less than a kilometre from the campsite, which has 99 pitches, including 31 for rent, offering maximum comfort. You can choose your accommodation from canvas bungalows or mobile homes. There's an indoor swimming pool and a range of sporting activities including table tennis, a bar, supermarket, bike hire and barbecues for summer evenings. There is a play area for children and a baby bathroom. For motorhomes, there is an artisanal bollard on the site. The campsite is ideally located for visiting the city of South Finistère in Brittany.

Campsite Kervel Locronan - Campsites near Locronan - Campsites around Locronan - Camping Capfun Locronan

Camping Domaine de Kervel ***** in Plonévez-Porzay in south Finistère in Brittany. The campsite is less than 6 km from the village of Locronan. Ideal for discovering the medieval town of Locronan during your holiday, while making the most of the campsite's facilities. The campsite offers maximum comfort with a water park comprising two heated swimming pools, one of which is covered, as well as a paddling pool for children and several slides. Situated 800 metres from the Atlantic Ocean, with direct access on foot, it has around 300 pitches, 250 of which are devoted to mobile home rentals. As for sports, mini-golf, table tennis and tennis on site will delight the more active, while entertainment, children's clubs, dance and entertainment evenings and shows will delight the whole family.

Campsites near Locronan - campsites near Locronan - Camping Douarnenez Locronan

The Huttopia Douarnenez *** campsite is located in the commune of Douarnenez, in southern Finistère in Brittany. The campsite is less than 15 km from the village of Locronan. Open from May to September, it is located just 400 metres from a sandy beach and offers fully-equipped canvas and wooden tents, wooden chalets and cottages with covered terraces for maximum comfort, as well as terraced or grassy pitches. In summer, a varied programme of activities is on offer for families. There's a heated swimming pool and a library and board games area. For the more active, there are sports activities such as badminton, volleyball and table tennis.

What not to miss in Locronan

Listed as a Historic Monument since 1846, Saint-Ronan church is a must-see. It was built in the 15th century on the orders of the Dukes of Brittany and is in the flamboyant Gothic style. Inside, there are remarkable arches, magnificent old stone and wood carvings and paintings depicting the life of Christ. The 16th-century tomb of Saint Ronan can be admired in the Pénity chapel, a smaller annex to the church. Carved from a block of lava, it shows him slaying a monster.

Church of Saint-Ronan
Church of Saint-Ronan © iStock
Interior of Saint-Ronan church and its stained glass windows
Interior of Saint-Ronan church and its stained glass windows© iStock

Opened in 1934, the Musée des Beaux-Arts is one of the places not to be missed in Locronan. Entirely restored, it teaches us about the history of the village and its development, such as the sailcloth industry, which was at the start of the village's boom. It also features paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries by artists who particularly enjoyed or lived in the village. There are paintings by artists such as Henri Le Sidaner, Emilie Simon and Désiré Lucas.

 

The Notre-Dame-de-Bonne-Nouvelle chapel is home to a large number of modern stained glass windows and stone statues. Dating from the 15th, 16th and 18th centuries, the chapel features a fountain and a calvary. It is also the site of troménie (a religious procession practised in Brittany), which takes place during pilgrimages.

Square with calvary and chapel
Square with calvary and chapel© iStock

Locronan is located in a particularly wooded area. With an altitude of 280 metres, it is also discreetly undulating. If you also take into account the fact that the village is 5 kilometres from the beaches of Douarnenez, this makes it a site with a rich natural heritage that is very popular with walkers. A number of paths and mountain bike trails, dotted with pretty gardens and alleyways, allow you to visit the historic sites in a different way, avoiding the more busy areas. One of the walks can take you to the top of the Plas ar Hom listed site, where you can enjoy sublime panoramic views over the Crozon peninsula and the Bay of Douarnenez. Remember that Finistère means "the end of the earth".

Locronan main square
Locronan main square © IStock

Anyone with even a passing knowledge of Brittany knows just how good the food is, and Locronan is no exception. The Ty Coz crêperie is a must in Locronan. Since 1952, it has been serving buckwheat pancakes with smoked sausage from the Isle of Molène, a must in Locronan. The Biscuiterie de Locronan offers free admission to a beautiful 17th-century house with typical Breton architecture, where you can discover the traditional Kouign-Amann, Breton cake and other madeleines and Crakou with churned butter caramel. Finally, the Courtin canning factory, founded in 1893 and famous for its fish soups, offers refined and beautifully decorated tinned sardines, tinned mackerel, fish rillettes and lobster bisque... from Brittany, of course! Enough to bring back memories of Locronan for all your friends and family.

Kouign Amann, a Breton pastry
Kouign Amann, a Breton pastry© Istock

 

 

 

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