Carantec is a small seaside town just 14 kilometers (9 miles) north of Morlaix and 17 kilometers (11miles) southeast of Roscoff. It's a popular summer resort. In addition to tourism, it is also home to a large oyster cultivation industry. If you haven't tried Breton oysters, Carantec would be a good place to change that!

People often come to Carantec to see the Château du Taureau. Built to protect the town of Morlaix from British invaders, today it is possible to take a boat to visit it. Boats go from Roscoff, Carantec (plage du Kelenn), and Plougasnou (port du Diben).

The château is a fortress, built in the 16th-18th centuries. Over the years it served as a defensive fort, a prison, a holiday home, and a sailing school! In the 1980s it was deteriorating, but fortunately was rescued and can be visited today. It stands as an island and it sometimes called Brittany's Alcatraz. Le Taureau means the bull, and the builders meant it to be fierce and strong.

The fog lifted enough to see Île Louet and the Château du Taureau.

Starting in the 16th century, Morlaix was a wealthy community, thanks to the trade in linen and hemp. Its strategic location at the mouth of the English Channel also made it important. Protecting it was critical!

Another attraction in Carantec is the Île Callot. This small island is just off the coast of Carantec and contains many small coves, dunes, fields, and more. Traditionally it was a place of fishing, farming, and collecting seaweed. Today it has 17 year-round inhabitants and is known for its granite and its potatoes.

Visiting Île Callot requires some planning, because the causeway is only accessible at low tide. When we visited Carantec, it was almost high tide, and Callot was clearly an island, with no way to approach it by car. A large sign warned visitors and showed the tide table. Tides in this region can be extreme, as anyone who has visited Mont-St-Michel or St-Malo can attest. Do pay attention to the warnings!

The dark part in the foreground is the causeway that goes to Île Callot, but since it was close to high tide, it was clearly not possible to go there.

There are several hiking trails in Carantec that lead down to beaches or to places where you can get good views of the Château du Taureau, Île Callot, or Île Louet and its lighthouse. There is a chain of islands called chapelet d'ilots; eight of these islands form a bird reserve. It is particularly known for nesting terns.

Be aware that fog is common along this coast. In fact, when we first got to Carantec, it was totally fogged in and it looked as if there was nothing out in the water. After a few minutes it started to clear, and soon Voila! We could see Île Louet and the Château du Taureau. So if you don't see anything, just wait a few minutes! And if you do see the islands clearly, take your pictures right away!

Fun fact: In June 1940, Charles de Gaulle came to Carantec to collect his family, who had been staying there, before they set off for England.

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