Concarneau -Nature's Playground in Brittany
Dansk version længere nede
We arrived in Concarneau after a really good sailing trip from Camaret sur Mer. We had carefully chosen the day so that we could sail in anything but headwind. On that note, we can feel that the sailings in the English Channel have taken a bit of a toll on us. When rounding Île Nonna and sailing eastward, you enter the "Baie de La Forêt." From here, in clear weather, you can see the outline of Concarneau, nestled at the back of the bay.
The entrance is beautiful with a view of Îles des Glénan, where the beaches and the azure blue sea stand out clearly. The entrance to Concarneau was a bit confusing. The depths on the nautical chart didn't make sense in relation to the marked fairway, but we found our way into the harbor without problems.
We had communicated with the crew aboard the sailing ship Melia in advance. After almost 4 months of sailing, they were now on their way home, and it worked out for us to meet. Their 4 children quickly bonded with our 3, and it was delightful to see the children's joy with their 'Danish' playmates.
Concarneau, like many other towns on the French west coast, is clearly influenced by old fishing traditions. Here, both large and small fishing boats regularly chug out to sea to bring in the night's catch. Everything is within walking distance from the harbor, and the old town, surrounded by water, is a clear attraction for tourists. It is charming, but tourism has also left its mark on the atmosphere, with ice cream stands, souvenir shops, and other ordinary stores taking over the authentic feel.
From the harbor, you can follow promenade paths along the sea, where small coves are scattered. Cliffs rise from the sea, and the tide exposes small saltwater lakes in the hollows of the rocks where the children spent hours playing in and around. It's fun to experience how nature's playground can repeatedly satisfy the children's sense of adventure when small cracks in the rocks need to be explored, and small animals are caught. It is in those moments that we truly realize the purpose of our journey.
Concarneau - Naturens legeplads i Bretagne
Vi ankom til concarneau efter en rigtig god sejltur fra Camaret sur mer.
Vi havde nøje valgt dagen, så vi kunne sejle i alt andet end modvind. På den konto, kan vi godt mærke, at sejladserne i den Engelske kanal har slidt lidt på os.
Når man runder île Nonna, og sejler i østlig retning kommer man ind i "Baie de La Forét". Herfra kan man, i klart vejr, se omridset af Concarneau, der ligger godt beskyttet bagerst i bugten.
Indsejlingen er smuk med kig til Îles des Glénan, hvor strandene og det azurblå hav tydeligt står frem.
Indsejlingen til Concarneau var en smule forvirrende. Søkortets dybder gav ikke mening i forhold til den markerede sejlrende, men vi fandt da vores vej ind i havnen uden problemer.
Vi havde på forhånd skrevet med besætningen ombord på sejlskibet Melia. Efter snart 4 måneders sejlads var de nu på vej hjemover og det passede med, at vi kunne mødes.
Deres 4 børn faldt hurtigt i god leg med vores 3, og det var skønt at mærke børnenes glæde ved 'danske' legekammerater.
Concarneau er, som mange andre byer på den franske vestkyst, tydeligt præget af gamle fiskeri traditioner. Her tøffer, store som små, fiskebåde jævnligt ud på havet for at hente nattens fangst hjem.
Alt ligger i gåafstand fra havnen, og den gamle bydel, der ligger omkranset af vand, er et tydeligt trækplaster for turister. Her er hyggeligt, men også her har turismen sat sit aftryk på stemningen, hvor isboder, souvenirbutikker og andre almindelige butikker har overtaget det autentiske.
Fra havnen kan man følge promenadestier ud langs havet, hvor små bugter ligger spredt ud. Klipperne rejser sig fra havet og tidevandet blotlægger små saltsvandssøer i klippernes udhulninger som ungerne brugte timer på at lege i og omkring.
Det er sjovt at opleve, hvordan naturens legeplads gang på gang kan tilfredsstille ungernes eventyrlyst, når små sprækker i klipperne skal undersøges og små dyr fanges. Det er i de øjeblikke, at vi virkelig indser formålet med vores tur.