Let me show you two aerial pictures, which clearly explain the position of the village of Lesconil, at the mouth of a coastal river, the Steir, which is what geologists call a ria.
The first view is facing north, to the land, whereas the second one is in the opposite direction, to the south and the sea.

(1): Fish auction room, with the fishing basin just in front (2): Slip (of the former lifeboat) (3): West wharf (4): Lighthouse of Men-ar-Groas (5): Harbor beach (6): Yachting basin (7): End of the "Sables Blancs" (White Sands) beach (8): Bridge on the Steir

(9): Steir Nibilic (10): Large sea wall (11): Rocks of the Palue

A few words about history! The word "Lesconil" approximately means "the rabbits' castle" in old French, these aren't Breton words. Numerous megaliths show proof that people live there since the prehistory. In 1800, Lesconil was a small hamlet of 80 inhabitants; most of them were peasants by tradition, and sometimes fishers when they couldn't do otherwise. But towards the end of the 19th century, a lot of Lesconilois (the inhabitants of Lesconil) abandoned their barren lands, and became fishermen in order to earn more. The trend was the same at this time on the whole Bigouden south coast, which was compelled to make the choice of the sea… unlike the inhabitants of the west coast, on the Audierne bay, who remain farmers, probably because their lands were more productive.

Lesconil became a real harbor in 1879: that year, the first lifeboat base of the whole Bigouden country was built there. This picture (taken in 1905) shows the lifeboat house right in the middle, and its slipway in front of it. This boathouse was demolished in 1966 but the slipway still exists, you can see it well on the first picture above, (2), in front of the harbor square.

In fact, this harbor is completely artificial. The first anchorage in the 19th century was in the Steir, behind the old sea wall which still exists and shields a small harbor. You can see it on both pictures, at the place the estuary is at its narrowest, near the (5). But since 1913, successive works transformed a fully open bay into a safe and functional shelter: all the existing wharves were gained on the sea, including the ground were the fish auction room was built. In the past, the lighthouse of Men-ar-Groas ((4)) was on a small island, which had the same name, and which has been joined to the land. The last harbor works in 1990 consisted in lengthening the west wharf (3) and in fitting out its platform.

One of the main interest of the harbor is when the boats come back from fishing, at about 4:30 PM on weekdays. Lesconil is the smallest Bigouden harbor and the less "industrial" one: the public, the tourists are admitted everywhere, on the wharves, when the crates full of fish are unloaded from the boats, during the fish auction sales, and sometimes in the summer, this gives a serious activity a kind of "folk show" atmosphere… You can ask questions (and this is recommended!), if you do this kindly the people will always take the time to answer. Apart from that, the harbor of Lesconil is a pleasant place too, nice for a walk.

Lesconil's speciality is the fresh langoustine, delicious on a bred slice with a little salted butter.

The most important thing for most summer holiday-makers is the beach! You won't be disappointed. Paradoxically the most beautiful beach of Lesconil is not in Lesconil, it's on the territory of Loctudy. This is really strange because this place is located very close to the center of the village. Anyway nobody won't ask for your passport as you cross the Steir: the Sables Blancs (white sands) beach ((7)) is on the other side and is more than 1 kilometer (0,6 mile) long. Two ways to cross the river: at low tide, you can simply ford; at high tide, you can either swim or use the bridge, (8) on the picture, a few hundred meters away.

Otherwise there are other beaches in the neighborhood: first of all the small one opposite the Sables Blancs, which you can see on the aerial pictures above ((5)) and which is the only one officially in Lesconil, and the commonly named Small Beach and Large Beach too, to the west on the territory of Treffiagat. But I do prefer the Sables Blancs, because the site of the Steir is really particular and give them a lot of charm.

Lesconil Tourist Office
4 rue Pierre Loti
F - 29740 Lesconil
Phone: +33 2 98 87 86 99
Fax: +33 2 98 82 21 14.
e-mail: lesconil.officetourisme@wanadoo.fr

I must tell you about the nautical center too, i.e. the sailing school, with sailing dinghies (above) for children, or bigger ships, windsurfs (below), sea kayaks for adults. I tested it for you, even though I'm not a born sailor: just do it, it's a lot of fun! C.N.P.A. 2 rue Victor Hugo F - 29740 Lesconil Phone and fax: +33 2 98 87 89 43 e-mail: cnpa.lesconil@wanadoo.fr

Let me tell you at last that in Lesconil, there are 6 camp sites, 4 hotels, 4 doctors, 1 drugstore, 1 dentist, 1 Catholic church, 1 Protestant church, 1 hairdresser, 3 banks including 1 with an ATM, 1 sculpture club, 1 post office, 1 garage, etc…!

So see you soon maybe…

Between Land & Sea

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