Visiting each port in Pays Bigouden means understanding a large part of the local history.
Although port activity in Île-Tudy and Sainte-Marine disappeared long ago as fishing moved to other ports in the south, these harbours still retain a significant maritime heritage. The ‘Abri du marin’ (sailor’s shelter) and its slipway in Sainte-Marine give you an idea of the number of sailboats. 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 bridge, towpath, mills and storage buildings show the volume 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 langoustines. Lesconil sees the fishermen return with their daily catch and is gradually turning to yachting. Léchiagat is an open-air shipyard, ideal for watching trawlers in action!
