Concarneau: events

Good to know about going out in Concarneau

Concarneau has always lived off the sea: its harbour remains one of the leading fishing ports in France, and you can watch the boats and the boatyards at work from the quays. Facing them, the Ville Close — a fortified islet reached by a footbridge — packs in narrow lanes, ramparts and shops; a stretch of the rampart walk is open, the harbour on one side and the bay on the other.

In summer the population doubles and the programme follows: events on the quays, boat trips, open-air concerts and markets. Once winter comes the port keeps working after the visitors have gone, and life moves to the halls of the town centre and to local associations, with a cultural season that starts up again in September. The beaches, among them Les Sables Blancs, are there all year for a walk facing the open sea.

In practice: the Ville Close is explored on foot and cars stay outside, while the town-centre car parks fill quickly on a fine day. Cobbles and rampart steps are easier in decent shoes. The site's search shows what is on around an address or your own position, within whatever radius you choose.