Things to see and do Ouessant

A Ouessant , it is not complicated, you have to go around the island to enjoy the majestic natural landscapes. We are sometimes blown away by the wind, but the island is worth it and its exceptional natural heritage is also worth it: cliffs, jagged rocks, steep coasts.... The tip of Pern is a classified site from which you can observe the strong marine currents that surround the island. The port of Arlan, with its large dike, is also a pleasant place, and you can find the lighthouse of La Jument et Molène. Let's go on an adventure, and you follow the roads and paths, cross the hamlets surrounded by low walls, there is nothing more beautiful!

The museum of the lighthouses and beacons could only be installed in Ouessant. Indeed, the outskirts of the island are known to all sailors of the world as a result of their dangerousness. Ouessant has 5 lighthouses, many beacons and land marks helping in navigation. The museum, set up in the former power station of the Créac'h lighthouse, presents the history of marine aids. It also evokes the many shipwrecks which took place in the vicinity and the epic construction of some monuments like La Jument lighthouse. Several Fresnel lenses and other optical objects are exhibited. Several models and audiovisual documents complement the visit. It is a museum for those who are passionate about lighthouses but also for curious people whom this field puzzles.

Lampaul is the village of the island, but also the rallying point after the landing, to discuss the modalities of discovering the island (cycling, hiking) and the place to meet for lunch or a drink before the boat leaves. Here, you can find almost everything: supermarket, bars, restaurants, bakery, pharmacy, school. You can also rent bicycles to go around the island, get information from the tourist office and, if your heart is in it, visit the church (remember that its bell tower was built thanks to donations from the British crown after the sinking of Drummond Castle). Going down, you can access the port of Lampaul, where the sailing school, the diving club and the lifeboat are located. At the southwestern end, the view of Lampaul Bay is magnificent. Note: it is in Lampaul that most of the festivities of the International Island Book Fair take place at the end of August.

It was in the 17th century that its construction was decided and built. It is therefore one of the oldest French lighthouses still in service. But it was no longer enough to mark the entrance to the English Channel: a semaphore is now watching, about 100 metres lower, accompanied by a more effective radar. You can climb the 104 steps of the Stiff lighthouse to enjoy a breathtaking view of the island! Like five other lighthouses in Finistère, it has been classified as a Historic Monument since 2010. Namely: Stiff Bay is the main place to live, after Lampaul. It lives at the rhythm of the arrivals of boats making the connections with the continent and of the few fishing and material transport boats.

It was here that the first ecomuseum of France was created in 1968. As you enter the permises, you get the impression that time has stopped. But of the two houses characteristic of traditional housing architecture in Ouessant, only one remains, the second having been destroyed by arson (which affected several sites on the island), in July 2017. If the ground floor and the attic were designed in a very functional way, the interior distribution appeals to the visitor: a partitioning system frees up two rooms of similar dimensions at both ends of the house. One of them, equipped with tables, benches-chests, enclosed beds and a fireplace, is the living room. The room at the other end has the same configuration but its decoration is neat and the woods are worked. It is the ceremonial room of the house, which is only used for entertaining on special occasions. Furniture, objects, engravings, photos and costumes are all testimonies to the rich hours of the island in the last century.

The Tourist Office is highly prized when boats arrived at port. You will find there all information you need for a successful stay: points of interests, guided tours, accommodations, catering facilities, bike rental, etc. Do not forget to bring a map of the island containing all the hiking trails and passable roads, it is the sesame which opens all doors onto the beauty of the island.

The Ouessant Island Tourist Office is a point of reference for visitors wishing to discover this unique Breton island. For those wishing to prepare their stay in advance, the Tourist Office website features an interactive map, practical information on health and emergencies, and a calendar of upcoming events on the island. Whether you're looking for spectacular scenery, iconic lighthouses or the tranquillity of island life, Ouessant is a destination not to be missed by lovers of nature and Breton culture.

In the summer, a boat trip around the island of Ushant is a pleasure to see and a strong sensation to live. Making souvenirs between friends or family, on board a canoe, François Morin, is simply magic. Starting for a walk at sea, wait to discover a thousand and a wonders, and keep the eye attentive and open to see marine animals, lighthouses (like the mythical lighthouse of Kéréon)… A wonderful exit!