kerouac

The Pointe du Raz is the westernmost tip of continental France and is the finger pointing to America on the map. I have always liked visiting symbolic geographical points, even when they are not 'pretty' because they stir feelings in me that have nothing to do with the visuals. Of course it doesn't hurt if the site is also a spectacular sight, and that is most definitely the case of the Pointe du Raz with its giant waves and shipwrecking rocky outcrops. There is a truly remarkable collection of lighthouses both on the coast and out at sea, doing what they can to keep people alive.

This week, I drove to the Pointe du Raz from Quimper, which is perhaps the closest city with direct trains from Paris-Montparnasse albeit with about 6 stops along the way. Of course, the TGV stops in most of the stations only 3 minutes, so it doesn't really delay the trip.

I had already been there two or three times in the past, but it is the sort of place that draws you back if you are anywhere in the region. The weather was perfect, and that was perhaps the only disappointment of the trip. There is nothing more magnificent that seeing a storm at the Pointe du Raz, but on Monday it was what the French call "a sea of oil," which has nothing to do with oil tanker disasters but simply the fact that the ocean was completely calm with no waves.

It is a national "natural site" now, which means that buildings and cars are forbidden, so a bit of walking is required to get to the water's edge.

Anyway, here is the photo report that I made about it: http://tinyurl.com/pointeduraz

billandcindy

Great photos. We visited Pointe du Raz and Pointe du Van last June and were likewise impressed with the dramatic scenery there. At the time, we were staying in Pont Aven -- at the Hotel Roz Aven -- and made a day trip west to Pointe du Raz. Before the trip we had never heard of Pointe du Van. However, I found Pointe du Van to be a bit more impressive, maybe in part because you could park you car nearby at no charge and easily walk the trail skirting the Pointe and overlooking the water crashing against the rocks below. Interestingly, when we returned to our hotel and told the hotel owner where we had been, she said that she had grown up in the small oceanside hotel that lies in the valley between Pointe du Raz and Pointe du Van.

Adelaidean

Love that first photo of the hotel.

cynthia_booker

Another beautiful photo essay. Thank you very much.
I always thought that Pointe de Corsen was a little more to the west than Pointe du Raz, but have not been to either so maybe I am mistaken. I am sure K will correct me on the finer points of geography!

FrenchMystiqueTours

Haven't gotten around to looking at this yet kerouac but I will soon. You know I'm a Brittany lover.