Justin Foulkes
France's westernmost département, Finistère (www.finisterebrittany.com) has a wind-whipped rocky beach and cove-strewn coastline dotted with lighthouses and beacons lashed by the waves. Wild and mysterious, Finistère is, for many travellers, the most enticing edge of an already enticing region.
The etymology of the name Finistère literally emerges from 'end of the earth' (the Latin Finis Terræ) – an extremely apt name for this domain, especially as one approaches the raw shore which is redolent of the west coast of Ireland. Swaths of this beautiful land are preserved in the Parc Naturel Régional d'Armorique (www.pnr-armorique.fr).
Finistère's southern extent, called Cornouaille, takes its name from early Celts who sailed from Cornwall and other parts of Britain to settle here, and today it is a centre of Breton language, customs and culture.
These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Finistère.
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This farm and working cider factory produces cider, apple juice and vinegar. A visit takes you from the orchard to production and, of course, you get a tasting at the end, too. They also have two-hour introductory cider-making classes (€20) on Thursdays (November to February); book ahead. The farm is located around 2.5km north of Argol.
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The cliffs of Pointe de Dinan, 6.5km west of Crozon, provide a dramatic outlook over the sands of Anse de Dinan and the rock formations locally known as the Château de Dinan, which are linked to the mainland by a natural archway.
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At the heart of Argol, this 1576 church – dedicated to St Peter and St Paul – was much enlarged in the late 17th century, while its bell tower dates to 1585. The church is accessed by a monumental, decorated gateway, erected in 1659. Above the archway of the gateway sits an equestrian statue of King Gradlon, a semi-mythical sovereign ruler of Cornouaille who features in many Breton folk legends.
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Outside the wall of Église St-Pierre et St-Paul, on the corner of place de L'Église and rue de L'École, you will find this 3m-long statue of Breton legend King Gradlon, erected in 1990.