Visiting each port in the Pays Bigouden means understanding a large part of the local history.
AlthoughÎle-Tudy and Sainte-Marine saw port activity disappear very early on in favour of the other ports in the south, they still retain traces of their history, with a significant maritime heritage. The “Abri du marin” (sailor’s shelter) in Sainte-Marine and its slipway give you an idea of the sailboat traffic. The narrow streets of Île-Tudy, at the mouth of the river in Pont-l’Abbé, remind us of the past of this sardine port, before it became a holiday resort. As for Pont-l’Abbé, it was the trading port of the Bigouden region.
The port of Pont-l’Abbé with its manned bridge, towpath, mills and storage buildings show the importance of traffic on the river, which continued until the 1950s.
The southern side of the Bigouden region is dotted with legendary ports that are still in operation, such as Le Guilvinec and Saint-Guénolé. Loctudy will always be the port specialising in langoustine. Lesconil sees the return of fresh fishing every day and is gradually turning to yachting. Léchiagat is an open-air shipyard, ideal for watching trawlers in action!
