France – Brittany : A hike on GR34 to Cap Fréhel – 20 photos.

All along the GR34 encircling the whole Brittany the landscape is stunning. From Saint Malo to Saint Brieuc the walk follows the dramatic Emerald Coast, the famous Frehel Cap, the outstanding pink cliffs of Erquy.These Natural sites have been on Unesco List since the 70s.

 

Hiking in Brittany on the coastal path GR 34 -from Saint-Malo to Saint- Brieuc

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Frehel heathland

Spreading over 400 hectares the Frehel heathland is preserved and protected and offers a great variety of environments. The scientists and nature lovers consider it as a giant vegetal lab. (short heathland on the cliffs, gorse and heather moorland on richer grounds). On top of the cliffs can also be observed a few flowers that cling to the rocks with deep roots whereas their leaves in tuft can store humidity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hiking in Brittany on the coastal path GR 34 -from Saint-Malo to Saint- Brieuc

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Bird Reserve of Cape Frehel

Plenty of sea birds hide in steep islets or nest in different sites along the 6 km of coastline, as for example in La Fauconnière. The main species are double-crested cormorants, the blacklegged kittiwakes, herring gulls. There are also other species coming from boreal oceans such as fulmar petrels, torda razorbills and guillemots.

Also can be observed Pied Oystercatchers, Northern Gannets.

The SEPNB is the Society in charge of the Nature preservation in Brittany : you can consult their updated website for more information.

Among all the species we can observe migratory birds but also some that are not, pelagic marine bird or land birds. Among the pelagic birds can be found gulls, cormorants, northern gannets or the migratory Canada geese: they all have the ability to drink salt water by filtering it, which the land birds can’t do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vauban Lighthouse 

Simon Garangeau, the engineer-architect of famous Vauban built in 1685 a round pink sandstone tower on top of which was a lantern. It was the first lighthouse which use was to protect the ships that were coming in and out of Saint Malo. For more than 2 centuries it was alimented by coal that will be later replaced by oil. In early 19^th century it was the unique lighthouse between Cherbourg and the extreme western part of Brittany. In 1847 the lighthouse was modernized into a square stone tower of 27 meter high on top of which was set a modern light. It will work for more than one century until the German troops blew it up in 1944. The 30m high present lighthouse was inaugurated on July 1950, rises 103 m over the sea level. Its lens can have a range of 100 km when the weather is clear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hiking in Brittany on the coastal path GR 34 -from Saint-Malo to Saint- Brieuc

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hiking in Brittany on the coastal path GR 34 -from Saint-Malo to Saint- Brieuc