Treasure n°2 The nuggets of Cancale and La Houle

Le Port de la Houle in Cancale: between maritime tradition and local flavours

Le Port de la Houle is the lively heart of Cancale, renowned for its seaside oyster market and its authentic atmosphere. This picturesque port, located opposite Mont-Saint-Michel Bay, is the ideal starting point for discovering local oyster farming, strolling along the quays or sampling fresh seafood direct from the producers. With its historic slipways, lighthouse and the bisquine “La Cancalaise”, the port embodies Brittany’s maritime history. A must-see when visiting Cancale,it combines heritage, gastronomy and spectacular seascapes.

1. The Bay and Cancale and the Bisquine

A traditional inshore fishing boat, the bisquine is an emblematic sailing vessel of Cancale: as early as the 19th century, more than 200 bisquines anchored in the Port de la Houle. Today “La Cancalaise“, a replica of the 1905 Cancale bisquine “La Perle”, offers a wide range of sailing trips.

©©alamoureux Bisquine La Cancalaise (75)|alexandre lamoureux

©Plateau D Huitres Creuses Port De La Houle Cancale Smbmsm 2656|smbmsm

2. Oysters

Oyster beds form a grid pattern that follows the coast from the Rocher de Cancale in the north to in front of Saint-Benoît des Ondes in the south. Oyster farming is listed as one of France’s Intangible Heritage sites.

The oyster market is a veritable institution in Cancale. All year round, oyster lovers can sample the “precious” ones here while watching the work of the sea gardeners when the tide allows.

3. La pointe des Crolles

The Pointe des Crolles is the starting point of the Sentier des Douaniers: a commemorative plaque marks the “Kilometre 0” of the famous coastal path of the GR34. From here, it’s a 7km walk to the Pointe du Grouin.

4. Cale de la Fenêtre and cale de l’épi

So named, the jetty is located between the oyster beds and the eastern entrance to the Port de la Houle. Built on the Fenêtre rock in 1871, the slipway was replaced by a jetty in 1897 and then extended by around a hundred metres between 1932 and 1936. The first dyking works at La Houle were carried out in 1769. However, it wasn’t until 1838 that the first slipway was built: l’Épi and its architecture is a unique and exceptional example of Breton maritime heritage. It has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1995.

5. Les petites rues derrières

This former fishermen’s quarter dating from the 18th and 19th centuries is relatively well preserved, particularly the so-called “back streets”. A few rare notables’ houses were built here during this period; most of the dwellings are modest and inhabited by fishing families.

A walk for you!

6. La fontaine des laveuses d’huîtres

A bronze work by sculptor Jean Fréour inaugurated in 2000, the statue pays tribute to the work of the Cancalaises, employed to sort and wash oysters before mechanisation. Reputed to be courageous workers, their husbands would leave for long months to fish in Newfoundland, leaving them to manage the sales of their catch. It’s worth noting that it’s unusual to come across a sculpture depicting women at work.

5. La pointe du Hock

The Pointe du Hock is a veritable balcony overlooking the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel; the GR34 customs trail passes through here and leads either north towards the Pointe du Grouin or south towards the picturesque La Houle district. The vegetation grows right up to the foot of the cliff, protected from the prevailing winds.