Places of Interest in Brittany
- Roscoff

This charming and tranquil fishing village, which is the birthplace of Brittany Ferries, may be small in size, but it is certainly not short of attractions, or famous connections.

A Rich History

Mary, Queen of Scots, arrived here in 1548 at the age of six on her way to Paris to be engaged to the Dauphin; in 1746 Bonnie Prince Charlie also landed at Roscoff after his defeat at Culloden; and in 1828 a 20 year-old Roscovite named Henri Olivier set sail for Plymouth from these shores. Henri, as the whole world surely knows, was the very first Breton Onion Johnnie to arrive in England. As testament to what he started, there is even a chapel in Roscoff dedicated to St Barbe, patron saint of 'les johnnies'.

Things to do

As one of France's premier shellfish ports, it goes without saying that the seafood in Roscoff is exquisite, and many superb restaurants offer a variety of mouth-watering house specialities. There is a good choice of beaches too, the best of which is probably the sandy stretch at Laber. Sights to catch include the splendid church of Notre-Dame-de-Kroaz-Batz, the nearby house where Mary Stuart stayed, and the botanical gardens which contain over 1,500 species of plants from the southern hemisphere. Also, a 15 minute boat ride will take you to the charming Ile de Batz, with its exotic flora and impressive lighthouse.