Cape Freel separates the Bay of Saint Brieuc from the Bay of Saint Malo. It is considered the most impressive rock in Brittany – about 70 meters above the sea.
The main attraction of the cape is the Old Lighthouse (Vauban Tower).
The first lighthouse was erected on this site from granite under Louis XIV in 1701. Then it was rebuilt in 1845-1847, but in August 1944 this lighthouse will be destroyed during the hostilities. The current building is from 1946. The headlamp is located at an altitude of 103 meters, in clear weather its light is visible for 100 km!
Cape Freel is a nesting place for gulls, crested cormorants and penguins. All coastal rocks are strewn with birds!
It’s better to observe the birds from the water
We took a cruise to the fort and the cape, and did not regret it at all – the views from the water are amazing, and on the way back we met dolphins!
Fort La Latte
Fort La Latte is located on a rocky promontory, near Cape Freel. The picturesque place has served as the surroundings for several films.
The castle was built in the fourteenth century by Stephen III, and in the eighteenth century, under Louis XIV, the castle becomes a bastion.
The castle was electrified only in 2001!
The location for the fortress-bastion was chosen perfectly: a panoramic view of the Emerald Coast, the English Channel and the Gulf of Saint-Malo. Sheer cliffs protect the castle from any invasion from the sea.
A curious and beautiful legend is connected with this place. A menhir is located next to the fort; it is believed that this megalith is nothing more than Gargantua’s finger. Legend has it that he lost it when he tried to reach the shores of England across the English Channel.
Another legend describes the death of Gargantua at Cape Freel. It says that all the islands, which can be seen in the sea around the cape, are the remains of a giant, and the menhir is his finger, which fell here and got stuck in the ground. It’s a pity we couldn’t see this from the water.
How to get to the Cap Frehel and Fort La Latte
By water
We started our marine jorney from Saint-Malo. A three-hour cruise is what you need – it is fascinating and beautiful, and your legs may have a rest after a long day in the city! In the photo above is shown the dock from which cruise ships depart (ferries to Dinard also leave from there).
The trip turned out to be excellent, in fact, all the photos on this page were taken from the board of our vessel.
By bus
From San Brieuc to Fort La Latte, there is a bus line №2 of the Tibus company (check the schedule on the website http://www.tibus.fr) to Cape Freel and the town of the same name. The cape is 10 km far from this stop. So either rent a car or a bicycle to get there.
The walk from Cape Freel to Fort La Latte is more than recommended as it is part of the Customs Trail!
