Passing through Ploaré, a district of Douarnenez

Car park at Le Ry Izella near the beach.

^GR®34markings: White and Red

(S/E) With your back to the car park, head left, cross the River Névet and shortly afterwards cross the D7 at the pedestrian crossing to head towards the beach. Turn left and follow the path across the esplanade overlooking Ry or Ris Beach. Join the uphill road (view of the far end of the bay and the port of Douarnenez). Pass a small public garden on the right with a picnic table just before the large Quatre Vents crossroads. Turn right towards the town centre.

(1) Take the first path on the right (signposted ‘Site des Plomarc’h’), go down the steps and follow this wide path through a wooded area: lovely views of the sea. Reach the archaeological site on the right (Roman-era salting vats)

(2) Continue right along the path to reach the first wash house, “le Grand lavoir”, which was the busiest in its day.

(3) Turn right and follow the path that skirts the old fishing village, cross a small footbridge and take the steps to reach Rue des Plomarc’h, which further on becomes a no-entry road. Follow this street, which offers lovely views of the old Port du Rosmeur, dominated by its colourful houses. Continue along Rue Quartier Maître Balanec.

(4) Turn right onto Rue Anatole France and head down to the Port du Rosmeur. Follow the quay to the left: pass a quay on your right and arrive at a fork just before a block of flats.

Off the marked route

(5) Turn left, go up the stairs and enter the narrow street, Rue Obscure, cross Rue du Couedic, continue straight ahead onto Rue Marcel le Bihan and arrive opposite the Chapelle Saint-Hélène.

(6) Head uphill to the right towards the market halls, turn left into Rue Eugène Kérivel, then right into Rue des Plomarc’h.
At the dog training centre, turn right into Rue Monte Au Ciel, a steep street that leads to a bar called ‘Paradis’ at the junction with Rue Jean Jaurès.

(7) Turn left onto this street and continue to the first street on the left, Rue du Carrefour. Cross a small car park and follow the path downhill.

^GR®34Gmarkings: White and Red

(8) Turn right, pass in front of the old village of Plomarc’h, then turn right onto the ascending dirt track which offers a panoramic view of the Plomarc’h site. You’ll reach another fountain topped by a small pyramid and its wash house “Ster Ch’laon”, another hub of social life from the early 20th century.
Continue along Chemin de Poul Lapic, pass a third wash house (not shown on the map) and reach Route du Ris, which you cross at the pedestrian crossing. Continue along the street opposite. You have now entered the Ploaré district.

(9) Turn right into Rue Anatole Le Bras, then take the second left, Rue Charles Le Goffic, which leads out opposite the monumental entrance to the cemetery, flanked by its First World War war memorial. Turn left to walk up Rue Laënnec.

The imposing bell tower of Saint-Herlé Church dominates the neighbourhood. Head towards this monumental 16th-century building, go past the roundabout to enter the square dedicated to René-Théophyle Laënnec, inventor of the stethoscope in 1816. Leave the square and take Allée Sainte-Croix on the right.

(10) Follow this lane which runs alongside the “Quartier Neuf” (New Quarter), a misleading name as these houses date from the post-war period. Note the style of these “beaver” houses, all of which look alike as they are the result of the collective work of the owners. Continue along the tree-lined path.

(11) Turn right onto Chemin de Coataner; at the entrance to the property, veer left into the woods then turn left twice to rejoin Allée Sainte-Croix. Cross the D7 with care. Ahead of you is the Sainte-Croix Chapel, a crypt brimming with stylistic details and inscriptions.
Continue along Rue de Kerlouarnec, which runs alongside a sports ground. Note the beautiful houses on the right, including the Manoir de Kerlouarnec, where Laënnec lived during his final years. Pass the new cemetery.

(12) Turn right onto a dirt track for a round trip of about 200 m to an old fountain and wash house that deserve a better fate. Back on the road, continue to the right to reach the Municipal Water Services, dominated by its imposing water tower.

^GR®38markings: White and Red

At the D39, turn left into Rue Morvan Lebesque and walk alongside the facilities.

(13) At the bus stop of the same name, take the narrow Manar Lak lane, which descends quite steeply between the houses, leading onto Route du Ris, which you follow to the right until you reach the car park (S/E).

Toilets on the beach promenade shortly after setting off.
Picnic tables are also available here, and further up at the small Quatre Vents garden and the Plomarc'h site.

Plomarc'h site.
Ploaré Cemetery.
Saint-Herlé Church.
Little Sainte-Croix Chapel.