Cancale

Visit Cancale, Brittany

Cancale is a town on the northern coast of Brittany to the east of Saint Malo where it is at the start of the section of coast known as the Emerald Coast.

The town has built a reputation due to the oyster beds that are along the coast and round the harbour at Cancale and is best known as being the oyster capital of Brittany. Cancale oysters have been famous for at least 2000 years since the days when they were eaten by the soldiers of Julius Caesar and later when they were delivered daily to Louis XIV.

Cancale oysters are thought to be some of the best available. In 1994 Cancale was classified as a ‘Site remarquable du goût’, a town remarkable for the taste of its oysters! Cancale produces 5000 tons of oysters farmed in its ‘parks’ in the bay and 1000 tons fished from the bay generally.

Exploring Cancale

Start your visit to Cancale on the seafront with a walk around the harbour and then on to the pier and see the oyster beds stretching as far as the eye can see, all seven square kilometres of them!

The harbour (at La Houle) is surrounded by pretty old fishing houses (many of them now restaurants and shops) and the highlight of a visit - there are numerous restaurants in Cancale where you can sample the local produce, especially the 'oversized' oysters for which the region is best known.

There are also a few stalls on the sea-front selling the oysters each day and the town also has a 'Museum of Oysters'.

Behind the harbour, the small town of Cancale is a traditional fishing town with granite houses clustered around the 18th century Church of Saint-Méen.

There are also several beaches to be found near Cancale - for example the attractive Plage de Port-Mer.

Attractions nearby

After exploring Cancale, head out on foot along the Sentier des Douaniers to the headland at Pointe du Gruoin for a good view across to Mont Saint Michel, and as far as Granville and Cap Fréhel.

The abbey at Mont-Saint-Michel is of course an indispensable part of a visit to Cancale, with a visit to the historic town of Dol-de-Bretagne also highly recommended.

Photos of Cancale (click any picture to start the gallery)

Tourist classifications for Cancale: Village in bloom (ville fleurie) 3*;

Suggested places to visit near Cancale, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Mont-Saint-Michel 24km; Granville 24km; Dinan 30km; Combourg 31km; Plancoet 35km; Cap Frehel 40km; Coutances 48km; Fougeres 59km;

See these places and more on a map at places near Cancale

Cancale tourism: sights and attractions nearby

Pointe du Grouin - site of natural beauty (4km) : Jardins de Montmarin - remarkable garden (20km) : Abbaye du Mont-Saint-Michel (Mont-Saint-Michel) - religious monument (24km) : Jardins du château de la Bourbansais - remarkable garden (32km) : Jardin du château de La Ballue - remarkable garden (34km) : Parc du château de Bonnefontaine - remarkable garden (35km) : Cap Frehel - site of natural beauty (36km) : Saint-Juvat - ville fleurie 4* (40km) :

French version: see Cancale (Francais)