Cap Fréhel, a stunning moorland at the top of France. Explore its coastline, lighthouses, and a 17th century castle.
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France – Easy Planning Tips
Flying into France, you’ll probably at least start in Paris, so spend a couple of days here before you move on. Here’s a few Paris tours that will ensure you’ve ticked off the most important sites:
– Hop On Hop Off Tour Of Paris ($40)
– Visit the Louvre and Take a Seine Cruise ($45)
– Day Trip to the Palace of Versailles incl. Lunch ($80)
If you like doing it on your own, you may want to save money with the Paris Pass (good for transport and sightseeing for 2-6 days).
Where to Stay? There are so many great hotels in France and we love using Booking.com for the ease of comparison and finding exactly what we want.
Some items you do not want to forget while packing for your France trip:
– Sunglasses and sunscreen
– A rain jacket and umbrella
– Memory Cards for your camera
Have you ever been to northern France, specifically Brittany? We rented a cottage for a week in Brittany and enjoyed eating mussels and oysters, trying out the famous galettes or savory crepes, walked through some amazing places like the World War Two sites in Normandy and cities like St. Malo. We also took a drive and a hike around the stunning Cap Frehel, not far from the town of Dinard.
Almost the entire coast of Brittany is lined with rugged cliffs high above the water. The waves are constantly working away at the cliffs, especially during high winds and storms, and in many places you can see how the underside of the cliffs have eroded. Where there is an inlet or bay that is a bit protected from the harshness of the sea, the water is still, turquoise and very inviting.
Cap Fréhel is a very popular destination, and we were far from the only visitors that day. The drive wasn’t a problem, and we found parking at all the pullouts, but we did not go on a weekend so that may have made a huge difference. Along the route, there are brown signs indicating the direction of the two lighthouses.
One was built in the 17th century under King Louis the XIVth’s reign by a builder who worked for the famous fortress architect and genius, Vauban (source). There was also one built much later in 1950. The newer lighthouse, for an entry price of 2 Euros, allows you to climb the stairs to the top for an amazing view. The parking lot for the lighthouses was completely full, and we drove around a bit looking for a space.
The landscape of the cape was stunningly covered in a colorful moorland. A moorland is a habitat of low-growing plants on acidic soil. The ground here is unstable and therefore there are very few buildings on the Cap. This moorland has many plants, but it is primarily covered with a fuschia-hued heather along with some other brilliant flowers.
From the lighthouse parking lot, there are a number of walking paths that meander through the moorland and hug the coast. Even though we wandered for a couple of hours, admittedly we didn’t make much ground, because we took so many photos.
A little further along the route there is a parking lot and a path to the fairytale Fort La Latte, also built in the 17th century. In case you were wondering, there is a little café and you certainly can get a latte!
A beautiful day in nature, it was definitely one of our highlights as we explored Brittany.
Have you been to Cap Fréhel?
Corinne Vail
Tuesday 16th of June 2015
Maria, It really is a gorgeous place!
Phoebe @ Lou Messugo
Monday 8th of June 2015
When we lived in Paris we went to Brittany often but I must admit I haven't been to Cap Frehel. I love the west of France, it's so rugged and wild compared to my south east coast, but then I love pretty much everywhere in France! Thanks for linking up again Corinne.
Corinne Vail
Monday 8th of June 2015
Phoebe, It is wild and beautiful...Yes! France is pretty amazing all over.
Rosie @Eco-Gites of Lenault
Sunday 7th of June 2015
I love the Brittany coastline and parts on the Normandy coastline on the west coast of the Cotentin Peninsula remind me of it's rugged beauty. #AllAboutFrance
Corinne Vail
Sunday 7th of June 2015
Rosie, It was our first time and we loved it. We'll have to go back.
Christy Swagerty
Saturday 6th of June 2015
So incredibly beautiful! Will note to include this place next time we are in Brittany! Great post on #AllAboutFrance!
Corinne Vail
Saturday 6th of June 2015
Thanks, Christy!
Diane
Friday 5th of June 2015
Love this! The pics reminded me of my trip there two years ago. It was SO windy when we were there in June that my dog almost blew into the water. But really stunning scenery! Brittany is one of my favorite regions of France (if not my fave!) #allaboutfrance
Corinne Vail
Friday 5th of June 2015
Diane, I love Brittany, but I have to say, I'm surprised everywhere I go!