Île de Batz combines a distinctive coastline with paths, a historic lighthouse, a botanical garden and an agricultural heritage that continues to shape the island today. The island measures approximately 3.5 kilometres from east to west. When planning your visit, it is worth considering more than just a single destination: the coastal landscape, garden and local history each offer something different. If you are looking for accommodation for your stay, you can first consider whether nature, architectural history or plant diversity should be your focus.

Coast, Paths and the Island’s Size

Dunes, sandy beaches, rocky shores, heathland and wetlands shape the island’s coastline. There are around twenty beaches. Some face south, and Île de Batz also has beaches sheltered from the wind. The island’s coastline therefore encompasses a variety of features, rather than one uniform type of beach.

Île de Batz can be explored on foot. Shorter routes allow for walks of around 7 to 8 kilometres. Away from the coastal path, cyclists can reach the seashore by way of numerous paths; the coastal path itself is reserved for pedestrians. The Anse de Pors Kernoc offers another view of the shoreline: it serves as an anchorage for Île de Batz’s fishing fleet.

Lighthouse and Coastal Landscape

At the western tip lies Trou du Serpent, a wild coastal landscape. The 44-metre-high Phare de l'île de Batz was commissioned in 1836; construction began in 1834 and took three years. At the island’s western end, a striking landscape and a structure with a history stretching back to the 19th century stand side by side.

The lighthouse climb involves 198 steps and offers views across the island and the Channel. The panorama stretches from the Sept-Îles to Île-Vierge and takes in the entrance to the Baie de Morlaix as well as the Monts d'Arrée. Access conditions may vary by season, so check whether the climb is possible before your visit.

The protected status of the Phare de l'île de Batz is also part of its history: it was listed as a Monument historique in 2015 and fully classified in 2017. The classification covers the entire structure and the associated paving for water collection. Visitors interested in architecture and heritage conservation will find here not only a view, but also a concrete example of the scope of protection afforded to a historic structure.

Chapel, Garden and Agriculture

The ruins of the Chapelle Ste Anne have been classified as a Monument historique since 1980. A procession is held at the chapel every year on the last Sunday in July. A fire is lit in the dunes on Saturday evening, and an outdoor mass is celebrated on Sunday. The exact schedule may vary; check the details if you plan to time your trip around this event.

The Jardin Georges Delaselle was established in 1897 and is an exotic island garden with more than 2,000 exotic plant species. Its collection includes more than 1,700 species from all continents; more than two-thirds of the collection come from the Southern Hemisphere. The garden offers a different perspective on the island from the coast and lighthouse, placing plant diversity at the centre.

Agriculture also strongly shapes the landscape of Île de Batz. Around twenty farms share 160 hectares of cultivated land. Traditional crops include early potatoes and cauliflower; seasonal production varies. Seaweed is also still used as fertiliser on the island. This agricultural tradition complements the coastal and garden themes with a look at the island’s cultivated land and farming practices that continue to this day.

Discover more destinations: Lannilis, Plonévez-Du-Faou, Beuzec-Cap-Sizun, La Forest-Landerneau, Botmeur, La Roche-Maurice, Landeda, Plonévez-Porzay

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