The 10 Best Things to Do in Saint Brieuc, France

First things first, put on a pair of walking shoes and head to the coast. Start by exploring Cap Fréhel peninsula to the northeast of Saint Brieuc. Other than the turquoise waters and pretty headland flowers, at the head of the Cap are two lighthouses. The smaller of the two isn’t in use anymore but was built in 1685 by engineer Simon Garangeau, the same who worked with Louis XIV’s military engineer, fortifying many points on the French coast. You can climb the taller 30-metre-high lighthouse, if you can manage all the steps.

Under 30 minutes on foot from the attractive town centre of Saint Brieuc, Le Légué port is a protected estuary harbour with over 300 kilometres of seafront. Visitors from the sea can moor their boats here and for those staying in town, it makes for a great afternoon stroll. The quaint working harbour also has plenty of information on the marina’s past, as well as some delightful restaurants and cafes.

Under half an hour from Saint Brieuc is Trégomeur Zoological and Botanical Park. Trégomeur spreads out over three hectares of land, including shrubs, bamboo, climbing and aquatic plants. The park has a lot of Asian elements, from Indian lions to a recreation of an authentic Thai house, and there is a focus on preservation and protection.

Dominating the Légué valley in Saint Brieuc, Villa Rohannec’h is well worth escaping the town to for an afternoon. This Italian-inspired villa and surrounding park was built in 1910 by wealthy shipowner Viscount Alain Le Gualez de Mézauban. From the villa’s terrace, Mézauban could observe the comings and goings of his ships. Today, the villa is starting to be used more and more for art and design projects and events, though the park is always open and free to explore.

Les Rosaires, just 15 minutes from the centre of Saint Brieuc, is a quintessential Breton beach. At low tide, the sand seems to go on for miles and, during the summer months, thanks to the positioning of the beach, the sun warms the sand (and so the water, too) all day long to the perfect temperature. Les Rosaires isn’t a wild beach like a lot of the coves along this coastline, but that does mean there are facilities for a coffee or light meal just a stone’s throw away, easy to amble over to in your flip flops. Ample parking makes it a hassle-free beach trip.

Just over 20 minutes from Saint Brieuc is La Maison de la Baie, a delightful museum made up of eight exhibition spaces. Taking the visitor on a journey from the clifftops of the bay of Saint Brieuc to its marine life below and bringing to life the natural heritage of the Nature Reserve in which it lies, it is the perfect educational morning or afternoon out for all the family. The museum also offers guided nature outings on reservation.