The best traffic-free bike rides around Plougonvelin

Phare de Saint-Mathieu is the name of a lighthouse in the village of Saint-Mathieu on the Saint-Mathieu Point in Plougonvelin in the Finistère department. It was built on the site of the former Saint-Mathieu Abbey. Its theoretical range is 29 nautical miles, which is approximately 55 kilometers. Together with the Kermorvan lighthouse, it indicates the Passage du Four (Chenal du Four), an important north-south passage from or to the Iroise Sea, which runs between the mainland and the island of Ouessant, thus saving about two days of travel time. In conjunction with the Portzic lighthouse, it illuminates the entrance to the Bay of Brest. The lighthouse has been listed as a French Historic Monument since May 23, 2011. It is open to the public. Just west of the lighthouse is the Sémaphore de la Pointe Saint-Mathieu.

A sign says: everyone travels at the same speed here. So cycling is allowed, but at walking pace.

Unfortunately, there's no restaurant. But the Breton cakes and biscuits are divine.

practical footbridge over the harbor allowing you to reach Le Conquet

Please note: following Storm Ciaran (over 200 km/h), which damaged the building on November 2, 2023, the church is temporarily closed to both worship and visits. Latin cross plan with three naves. Flat chevet flanked to the north and south by two single-story sacristies. Bell tower with two galleries and two bell chambers, supported by an octagonal spire framed at its base by four pinnacles. The main structure is made of granite and quartz microdiorite ashlar. Four-bay nave covered with yellow-painted wainscoting with white ribs. Pointed arches extending directly into the columns. Chancel flanked by two side chapels opening onto the transept. Floor covered with granite and schist slabs. The church dates from the mid-19th century. It presents itself as a homogeneous ensemble in the Flamboyant Neo-Gothic style. The church houses the tomb of Michel de Nobletz, a famous 17th-century preacher in Lower Brittany. Stained-glass windows adorn the windows and are divided into three distinct groups: the main window of the choir, which brings together 16th-century remains from the church of Lochrist; two hagiographic stained-glass windows, works by Robert Micheau-Vernez, in 1930-32; and finally, twelve stained-glass windows, designed in 1960 and 1971 by the glass painter Jacques Bony. The building was constructed between 1856 and 1859 based on plans by the diocesan architect Joseph Bigot, by the contractor Jézéquel, using materials from the original Saint-Christophe chapel and the Lochrist chapel from the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries. The western façade dates from 1856.

Small church in the town center of Plougonvelin. Destroyed during the bombings of 1944, it was restored between 1948 and 1951.

The Saint-Mathieu lighthouse is classified as a historic monument. It was the first fire in Finistère. It peaks at 37 meters high. Tours are organized, if you are not afraid to climb the 163 steps that lead to its summit.

With its long beach of fine sand, its turquoise waters and its opulent residences, Plougonvelin almost seems to be a town out of time. Ideally located on the GR 34 (customs trail), it is an interesting stopover for those who want to eat or spend the night there. There are many amenities there, from accommodation to catering to leisure activities.