Page 115 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Brittany

C Ô TES D ’ ARMOR  113

c St-Cast-Le Guildo
Road map: E1. @ £ Lamballe.
* 3,290. n Place Charles-de-Gaulle;
(02) 96 41 81 52. ( Mon & Fri.
_ Concerts (Jul–Aug).
Now a popular coastal
resort, St-Cast-Le Guildo has
no less than seven beaches,
and in summer its population
increases ten-fold. Its
expansion began at the end
of the 19th century, when the
painter Marinier purchased
the headland and set about
developing it.
The ruins of the Château
du Guildo, in the parish of
Fort La Latte, built in the 13th century, with a commanding view of the sea Créhen, recall the fratricidal
conflict between Giles of
z Cap Fréhel x Fort La Latte Brittany, son of Jean V, Duke of
Brittany, whose allegiance was
Road map: E1. n Fréhel; (02) 96 Road map: E1. 4 km (3 miles)
41 57 23. Ó Mid-Jun–mid-Sep & southwest of Cap Fréhel via the D16. to the English crown, and his
school holidays: daily. g Compagnie n Fréhel; (02) 96 41 57 23. 8 Apr– brother François I of Brittany, a
Corsaire Dinard/St Malo; 08 25 13 81 Sep: daily; Oct–Mar: Sat & Sun pm; supporter of the king of France.
00. ∑ compagniecorsaire.com winter school holidays: daily pm. François murdered Giles, but
g Compagnie Corsaire Dinard/St the latter had prayed to God
The spectacular headland of Cast, St Malo; 08 25 13 81 00. that his brother might outlive
Cap Fréhel is one of the most him by just 40 days; François
beautiful landscapes in Brittany. This impressive fortress indeed died exactly 40 days
Heathland covered with heather overlooking the sea was built later. It was not until 1758
and gorse stretches to infinity, in the 13th century by the that the English, who suffered
and sheer pink limestone cliffs powerful Goyon-Matignon defeat at St-Cast, finally
rise vertically from the sea to family. It was captured by relinquished their intentions of
heights of 70 m (230 ft). Bertrand du Guesclin (see p47) invading the coast of Brittany.
The view from here stretches in 1379 and was besieged by From here, visitors may
from Pointe du Grouin in the the English in 1490, then by enjoy two walks along part
east to the Île de Bréhat in the Holy League in 1597. On of the GR34 long-distance
the west. In clear weather, it Vauban’s orders, Garangeau footpath. One goes south
is even possible to see the (see p86) restored it in the to Pointe de la Garde, which
Channel Islands. A number 17th century. The keep and the offers a beautiful panorama of
of sea birds, such as fulmars, cannon-ball foundry are of the Ebihens archipelago and
kittiwakes, cormorants, particular interest to visitors. Presqu’île St-Jacut; the other
guillemots and pied oyster- From the rampart walk, there goes north, to the Pointe de
catchers, nest in nooks in the is a sublime view of the Côte St-Cast, which commands a
cliffs and on the neighbouring d’Émeraude. Abandoned in the fine view of Fort La Latte and
small islands. 19th century, the fort passed Cap Fréhel.
There are two lighthouses into private ownership in 1892, The fort and Cap Fréhel can
on the promontory: one built and was classified as a historic also be admired from the sea
by Vauban in the 17th century monument in 1931. by taking a trip in the Dragous,
and the other dating from 1950. an old sailing boat, which leaves
The latter is open to visitors; from St-Cast-Le-Guildo.
the effort of climbing to the The town’s church
top is rewarded by the view. In contains a 12th-century
summer, the Grand Site Cap Romanesque stoup decorated
d’Erquy-Cap Fréhel organizes with grotesques and a statue
walks on the promontory. Trips of St Cast, the monk who
by motorboat from Dinard and established a hermitage
St-Malo allow visitors to admire here in the 6th century.
the cliffs from the sea.
4 Dragous
 Lighthouse Port de St-Cast. Tel (02) 96 41 71 71.
Tel (02) 96 41 57 23 (Fréhel tourist The spectacular headland at Cap Fréhel, Open Jul–Aug: daily; Easter–Nov:
office). 8 Apr–Oct. & with sheer limestone cliffs by arrangement. &

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