Surrounding Forests and Trails

Locronan is one of the best-preserved villages in Brittany, a cluster of grey granite houses of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries around a cobbled square with a well, on the slope of a hill in the Finistère department, a few kilometres from Douarnenez Bay. Its wealth came from weaving sailcloth, which was bought for the ships of the French navy and the East India Company, and the grand houses that line the square were built by the merchants. It was used as the setting of an English village in Roman Polanski's film Tess, in 1979, and the village is classed among the most beautiful in France. The walks that start here let you see the landscape that surrounds it.

The hill above the village, called the Montagne de Locronan, is the key to the trails. It rises to about 290 metres and gives views across the bay to the Cap Sizun and the Ménez-Hom, the great hill of the Crozon peninsula. Around it runs the route of the Troménie, a religious procession in honour of Saint Ronan, the Irish hermit who is said to have lived here in the fifth century and gave his name to the village. The Petite Troménie of about six kilometres is walked each year, and the Grande Troménie, which covers around twelve kilometres and stops at a series of stations marked by crosses and chapels, takes place every six years in July. Walkers can follow the same circuit at any time of year, and it offers a good half-day outing with views of the countryside.

The woods and lanes near Locronan are typical of inland Brittany, with oak and beech trees, mossy banks, small streams and sunken lanes lined with granite walls. The nearby Forêt de Névet is a larger area of woodland, with paths that suit families and walkers who want a quiet walk. Cycling is popular on the quiet roads, and the route toward the coast leads to wide beaches, such as Sainte-Anne-la-Palud, with its pardon in August, a short drive away.

Paths can be muddy after rain, so wear sturdy shoes and bring water, and keep to the marked trails. The village also has the Collegiate Church of Saint-Ronan, a Gothic church built in the fifteenth century, with the Chapelle du Pénity beside it, and craft workshops and galleries. The Locronan Village Center is best explored before the day trippers arrive.

The walks suit families, hikers and photographers, and give a different view of Brittany from the coastal paths. Allow two to three hours for the Troménie circuit.