The town is built on three sides of a natural harbor whose innermost, sheltered section is the Nouveau Port. In the center of this is the heavily fortified Ville Close, an ancient hamlet surrounded by ramparts, some from the 14th century. From the quay, cross the bridge and descend into the town. Souvenir shops have taken over, but don’t let that spoil it. You can spend an hour wandering the alleys, gazing up at the towers, peering at the stone houses, and stopping in secluded squares.

For a splendid view of the port, walk the ramparts. They’re open to pedestrians daily 10am to 7:30pm, with seasonal variations.

Also in the old town is a fishing museum, Musée de la Pêche, 3 rue Vauban (www.musee-peche.fr; tel. 02-98-97-10-20). The 17th-century building displays ship models and exhibits chronicling the development of the fishing industry; you can also view the ship Hemerica, a restored fishing boat docked in the port and included in your entrance ticket. Admission is 5€ for adults, 3€ for students and free for children 18 and under .It’s open July and August 10am to 7pm and September to December and February to June from Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 6pm. Closed January.

Beaches -- Concarneau’s largest, most beautiful beach, popular with families, is the Plage des Sables Blancs, near the historic core. Within a 10-minute walk are the Plage de Cornouaille and two small beaches, the Plage des Dames and Plage de Rodel, where you’ll find fewer families with children. The wide-open Plage du Cabellou, 5km (3 miles) west of town, is less crowded than the others.

Sea Excursions -- Boat rides are usually fine between June and September but can be treacherous the rest of the year. The dazzling Glenans archipelago, 16km (10 miles) off the coast, is a must if you have the time and sea legs. It can be visited on excursions through Vedettes de l’Odet (www.vedettes-odet.com; tel. 02-98-57-00-58), which runs several times per day from April to September and cost 49€ for adults, 42€ for children ages 13 to 17, 26€ for ages 4-12 and 7€ for children 3 and under. In midsummer, you can arrange deep-sea fishing with the captain of the Santa Maria (www.santamariapeche.com; tel. 06-62-88-00-87).

 

 

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.