Douarnenez and its neighbourhoods

Park at Place des Quatre Frères Kérivel in Tréboul, except on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 7.30 am to 2 pm (market day).

You can also start the walk from the Toubalan industrial estate. Plenty of parking available.

(S/E) From the car park, head towards Quai François Bonizec, then Quai Agnès Perron and walk around part of the marina. Continue along the coastal path (GR®34) and reach the Port Rhu footbridge.

(1) Cross it and take Boulevard Camille Réaud on the left. Pass in front of Île Tristan and Plage des Dames. Walk along the sea via Boulevard Richepin, continue along the Flimiou Jetty to reach the Rocher du Flimiou: views of the harbour and Douarnenez Bay.

(2) Return along the Jetée du Flimiou, turn left to cross a large traffic island diagonally. Turn right at the end of the traffic island onto Rue Jacques de Thézac. Walk past the Comptoir de la Mer and take Rue Anita Conti on the left. Reach the harbour via Quai Anita Conti. Views from the heights, from the bell tower of Ploaré, over the Bay of Douarnenez, the beaches of Le Ris, Kervel, Saint-Anne-la-Palud, etc. There is also a view of Menez Hom.

Head back towards Quai du Grand Port, where you’ll find plenty of bars and restaurants if you fancy a break.

(3) Just before a flight of steps, a sign on the wall catches the eye. “1924–2024. Centenary of the Penn Sardin strikes”. This marks a chapter in the social history of Douarnenez. Head up Rue du Rosmeur via the steps. Opposite the steps, take the small passageway known as the Rampe du Rosmeur. This leads out onto Place du Sémaphore. Cross the square and turn left into Rue du Sémaphore.

(4) At the bottom of the street, take Rue Boudoulec on the right and arrive at Place des Pêcheurs. Turn right then left into Rue du Quartier Maître Guillou. Walk past the car park and turn left into Rue du Centre to reach Les Halles.

(5) You can walk around Les Halles or turn left, cross Place des Halles, and head down Rue Émile Zola before turning right onto Rue Marcel le Bihan. You’ll arrive opposite the Chapelle Saint Hélène.

(6) Head up Rue des Piétons then Rue Monte au Ciel. This was the street leading to the hospital and clinic until the 1980s. Turn left onto Rue des Plomarc'h and rejoin the GR®34.

(7) Follow the GR®34 to the right and join the Sentier des Plomarc'h, crossing the Plomarch site (an old fishing village) to the garum vats. Garum was a condiment made from fermented sardines. Take the time to explore this Gallo-Roman site, discovered in 1994.

(8) Return to the Plomarc’h path and continue to the exit onto the D7.

(9) Cross it at the pedestrian crossing on the right. The Route du Ris is very busy, so take care. Head back up Rue Léo Lagrange (D7) to Sainte-Croix (chapel) and the stadium, then along the Route de Bréhuel. The path runs alongside the road. Cross the roundabout near the aquatic centre. Head down Route de Brest.

For a few dozen metres, the footpath at the side of the road is very narrow and requires caution.

(10) Turn right onto the Promenade Paul Paulet (greenway) and walk for 400 m.

(11) Head down to the left via a small flight of steps leading to the rear of a shopping centre. Walk alongside it and cross the car park, turning left. Cross the Kerharo roundabout with care .

(12) Head back up Rue des Ajoncs. Turn left into Rue Penn Duick, then right into Rue Menez Bras. Walk alongside the housing estate until you reach a dirt track. At the end of Chemin Run An Iliz, turn left onto Chemin de Kerbiguet and follow it for 600 m until you reach a small bridge, which you cross near the Moulin de Kerguesten. Crossing this stream, the Stalas, you enter the Pouldavid district. Continue to the right after the bridge, along Chemin du Moulin de Kerguesten.

(13) Turn left onto the D143 for a few dozen metres to use the pedestrian crossing to cross this busy road with care . Continue straight ahead along the grassy path. Turn right onto Rue Eugène Lucas and then left towards Saint-Jacques Church. Go down the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs, turn left and walk for a few dozen metres.

(14) Head down the small Rue Jean Guellec to the right, then left until you reach Rue de la République. Go round the roundabout on the left, follow Boulevard Jean Moulin to the left and turn right onto Promenade Paul Paulet.

(15) Follow it to the left until it ends. Turn left and cross the roundabout to rejoin Boulevard Jean Moulin. Cross the road (at the pedestrian crossing), continue along Boulevard Jean Moulin (7A). To avoid traffic, you can take Rue de Brocéliande by going behind the wall. Cross the Menhir roundabout.

(16) Take Rue du Menhir opposite and follow it until it joins Rue du Commandant Fernand. Continue straight on into Rue Jean Tanguy and turn left into Impasse Ar Foennec.

(17) At the end of the cul-de-sac, a passage leads to the car park to the right of the shopping centre. Walk past the petrol station, cross the roundabout and head down Rue Alain Gerbault to the Guillaume Marec garden. Cross the garden and exit via a small ramp onto Rue du Pont Neuf, which you should follow to the left. At the end of the street, head towards Place des Quatre Frères Kérivel (S/E).

• Places to stop for refreshments and food: Tréboul Marina, Quai du Grand Port, Les Halles.
• Several shopping centres along the route.

(6) A short detour if you want to take the time to explore the harbour’s narrow streets. Walk round the chapel, take Rue Hervé Julien and turn right into Venelle des Alcyons. Go down the stairs. You’ll come out onto Rue Grivart; turn right. Take Rue des Marsouins opposite, then turn left into Rue des Plomarc’h and rejoin the GR®34.

• Port Rhu and the museum harbour.
• View of Tristan Island.
• The harbour.
• The harbour’s narrow streets.
• The Sainte-Hélène Chapel. Historic monument (16th century)
• Les Plomarc'h and the garum vats.
• Pouldavid and Saint James’s Church (12th century)
• Discover the maritime, industrial and social history of Douarnenez.