Cancale: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

Cancale combines maritime culture, oyster farming, historic buildings and distinctive coastal landscapes. Between Plage du Verger, Pointe du Grouin and the port of La Houle, the town reveals its many different facets.

Coast and Nature

Plage du Verger is a 2-kilometre-long sandy beach on a lagoon. It is bordered by a coastal hinterland marsh where characteristic animal and plant species can be found. On a rise above the beach stands the neo-Gothic pilgrimage chapel of Notre-Dame-du-Verger. The building was erected in 1869 by Canon Brune on the site of an earlier sanctuary.

Pointe du Grouin lies on the coast and is the most far-projecting rocky headland in the Ille-et-Vilaine département. It offers an impressive panorama. The Circuit de Cancale No. 12 circular trail starts at Place de l’Église, follows small country roads to Pointe du Grouin and then returns towards Port de La Houle and its oyster market.

Port, Oysters and Maritime Culture

Cancale’s history is closely linked to the sea and oyster farming. La Ferme Marine opened to the public in 1989 to familiarise visitors with the special features of oyster farming. At low tide, visitors can observe the oyster beds there. The meeting point for guided tours of the oyster parks is at the foot of the Marché aux Huîtres at Port de Cancale.

Cancale also holds the national distinction “Site remarquable du goût”. At the Musée des Arts et Traditions Populaires de Cancale, the collection focuses on bisquines, the local housing stock, oyster farming and the port of La Houle.

History and Town Centre

Cancale’s town centre emerged around the 10th century and preserves its first church, restored in the 18th century. The Musée des Arts et Traditions Populaires de Cancale is located in the former Saint-Méen church. It was rebuilt in the 18th century according to plans by Siméon Garengeau, a pupil of Vauban.

On the Water

The Centre Nautique de Cancale is located on Port-Mer beach. The sailing school teaches various types of sailing in the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel. The Centre Nautique de Cancale also rents out single and double kayaks, paddleboards, large paddleboards and catamarans.

The Centre Nautique de Cancale also offers guided paddle excursions in Cancale Bay. Depending on the weather and tides, they go around the Îles des Rimains or towards Port de La Houle; along the way, participants learn about the local flora and fauna as well as stories from Cancale. La Cancalaise offers another maritime perspective with trips out to sea intended to recreate the experience of earlier fishermen.

Other destinations: Le Theil-De-Bretagne, Lanhélin, Châteaugiron, Goven, Romagné, Saint-Aubin-D'aubigné, La Nouaye, Retiers

To the higher-level travel overview: Ille-Et-Vilaine.