Brest and the Plougastel peninsula are located at the furthest tip of Brittany. The photographer Mathieu Le Gall shows us his city as only a local can.
The inimitable Rue Saint-Malo
Give your adventurer’s soul the freedom to roam what remains of pre-war Brest. You’ll find a unique tea room in "Au Coin d'la Rue", owned by Mireille Cann, the last resident of this unusual street.
Where quality matters most: MeatCouture Boucherie Delicatessen
Before you leave the right bank behind, call in to see Andriy Maximov by the Pont de Recouvrance, and try some meat butchered before your very eyes! With your rumbling stomach thus silenced, panoramic views of Brest harbour await just a stone’s throw away, in the Jardin des Explorateurs.
Set sail on the Brestoa
Now it’s time to set sail and explore the world’s finest harbour on board the Brestoa. Its jetty is in the perfect location to explore the port, dominated by Paul Bloas’ giant fresco.
The Celtic touch: McGuigan's
This bar/restaurant, with its warm welcome, is often introduced as the local for port workers, and good times are guaranteed with an Irish music soundtrack.
A Breton dance at the Tara Inn
Another Irish bar. But this time, you’ll get to sample the traditional music and dance of Brittany at an authentic Fest Deiz, the first Sunday of every month from 3pm.
A village within the city: Place Guérin
This authentic working class neighbourhood is hugely popular with locals. We go to play a game of boules and have a drink. Find a spot on a terrace and let the magic do its stuff.
A stroll to the end of the world: Lauberlac'h
I grew up in this little fishing port on the Plougastel peninsula. Take the custom officers’ trail all the way to the to the tip. Then make a stop at the “Tapecul”, a bar where walkers and locals intermingle.
As fresh as it gets: Les viviers de Kéraliou
THE place to sample local sea food, right by the sea. The grilled lobster is out of this world.
Where next?
- Ride a cable car across Penfeld
- Explore Brest chateau and its maritime museum
- Catch a concert at the Vauban
- Take a stroll among the multicolourd cabins in Maison-Blanche.
- Discover the oldest artwork in Brittany at the Rocher de l’Impératrice.
- Spend an unforgettable night overlooking the sea at the Hostellerie de la pointe Saint-Mathieu
By Mathieu Le Gall
An urban photographer, Mathieu Le Gall was born in Brest and spent his childhood in Plougastel. Through images that show more than simple reality, he reinvents and reveals the magic of this region he knows like the back of his hand.
