Pléneuf-Val-André brings together Dahouët’s long harbour history with Val-André’s seaside architecture, coastal paths and seaside activities. The different highlights range from harbour and fishing history to beaches, an 18-hole golf course and manoeuvres aboard a traditional sailing ship. When planning your trip, you can focus on the themes that interest you most.
Dahouët: Harbour and Seafaring
The harbour of Dahouët dates back to the 12th century. It was one of the first harbours in the Bay of Saint-Brieuc to outfit fishing vessels for cod fishing off Newfoundland from the 17th to the 18th century, and off Iceland from the 18th century until 1914. These periods bring the town’s maritime history to life, from voyages to Newfoundland to those to Iceland.
La Pauline is also part of the maritime heritage. Visitors can take part in manoeuvres aboard a traditional lougre flambart. Sailing dates and availability may vary; check them before planning your visit. The Centre Nautique de Pléneuf-Val-André operates three sites spread across the municipality. The way the bases are organised may change, so it is worth checking the latest information if you plan to visit the Centre Nautique.
Beaches, Coastal Paths and Activities
Plage du Val-André stretches for 2.5 kilometres of fine white sand. At Plage de Nantois, you can try sand yachting or paragliding. Access to the beach begins with a wooded path of about 500 metres alongside the golf course. Path conditions may change, so check them before your visit. Golf Bluegreen Pléneuf-Val-André has 18 holes.
The Promenade de la Lingouare offers a different kind of walk. Created in 1898, it leads from the Château-Tanguy cliff towards Pointe de la Lingouare. Today, it is 300 metres long, narrow and winding, and runs along the Ville-Pichard cliff; two small bridges cross the rocks. Erosion may affect the passage, so check access before setting out for a walk. The two lengths refer to different things: about 500 metres for the wooded access path at Nantois, and 300 metres for the promenade itself.
Îlot du Verdelet is also part of the area’s natural heritage: it is designated a Special Protection Area under the 1979 Birds Directive.
Seaside Architecture and Historic Sites
The shipowner and merchant’s house in Dahouët was built in 1854 for Monsieur Rubin de Ray. Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Garde de Dahouët was built between May 1925 and June 1926 to provide religious services at the harbour of Dahouët. It stands on a hill overlooking both the harbour and the seaside resort of Val-André.
Casino du Val-André, also known as La Rotonde, was built in the 1930s as part of the modernisation of the resort centre. The villas along the Val-André promenade form a cohesive group representative of the seaside architecture of Pléneuf-Val-André. Together with the house built in 1854 and the chapel dating from the 1920s, these buildings offer a glimpse into different chapters of local architectural history.
Another reminder of the past is the Cairn à trois dolmens de la Ville-Pichard, a funerary monument. It was classified as a historic monument on 15 April 1965. Today, it is overgrown with vegetation and survives only as a remnant.
Discover more destinations: Buhulien, Saint-Denoual, Tréméreuc, Plouvara, Quemper Guezennec, Gouarec, Treffrin, Pouldouran.
For the broader travel overview: Côtes-D’armor.
