The islands of Finistère

Batz, Ouessant, Molène, Ile de Sein or Glénan, the islands of Finistère evoke distant paradises and fine sandy beaches. A must-see during your camping vacation in Finistère, they are linked to the mainland by sea shuttles in season.

Its 8 x 4 km territory is the largest of the Finistère islands, but also one of the wildest in the Iroise Sea. Recognizable by its steep cliffs, it's ideal for exploring by bike, from the port of arrival to the spectacular Pointe de Pern, the most westerly point in mainland France. The island is reputed to be the last in Brittany before America. Don't miss Ouessant's museum of lighthouses and beacons, or the Niou ecomuseum, dedicated to the island's past.

Just 6 meters above sea level, this small island threatened by rising sea levels emerges off the Pointe du Raz, in the Bay of Douarnenez in the Bigouden region, near the Crozon peninsula in South Finistère. Its unique charm lies in its small fishing port with narrow streets and colorful boats, low granite walls and thistle-filled meadows. The island of Sein particularly distinguished itself during the Second World War, with its fishermen representing a quarter of the French who joined General de Gaulle in London to organize the Resistance. The most decorated commune in France for this war, it is also the only one to have suffered even more casualties during this dark period than during the First World War.

The Molène archipelago lies between Brest and Ouessant in the Celtic Sea. It comprises themain island of Molène and a dozen islets. The island is renowned for its particularly diverse fauna, including sea otters, dolphins, gray seals and numerous species of seabirds. The island's culinary specialty is Molène sausage, a charcuterie smoked with seaweed.

Opposite Roscoff, Batz Island can be reached in 15 minutes by boat. And yet it's one of the most exotic islands in the world: its mild microclimate is home to a number of exotic plants rarely seen in Finistère. The Pointe Pen ar Cleguer is home to the Georges Delaselle exotic garden, where you can admire over 2,500 plants from all over the world. The 12 km tour of the island is easily done by bike. Batz is also renowned for its market gardening and the quality of its goëmon-enriched vegetables.

To the south of Fouesnant, the Glénan archipelago is known for its picture-postcard landscapes, earning it the nickname of the "Breton Caribbean". The island of Saint-Nicolas is the largest in the archipelago, off the coast of Tregunc and Pont Aven. It is linked to the island of Bananec by a sandy tombolo, considered one of the most beautiful beaches in France for its end-of-the-world setting, white sand and turquoise waters. The archipelago is home to the famous Glénans sailing school. At the heart of the archipelago, the crystal-clear waters of La Chambre are hailed as one of the most beautiful anchorages on the Atlantic coast. A must-see if you're on vacation in Brittany's Glénan islands!