Rothéneuf Carved Rocks

What it is

On the Rothéneuf cliff, above the sea, there are more than three hundred figures carved directly into the granite. They were made by one man, Abbé Adolphe Julien Fouéré, known as Abbé Fouré, between the end of 1894 and 1907. They cover more than 500 m² of rock: faces, whole bodies, sea monsters, ships and animals that merge with the cracks and the lichen. It is considered a work of raw art and is one of the rarest sites on the Breton coast.

The enclosure is private and is not protected as a monument. Entry is paid, and it received some 40,000 people in 2012.

Who Abbé Fouré was

He was born in 1839 and died in 1910. A retired priest at Rothéneuf, which then belonged to the commune of Paramé, he spent more than twelve years carving the rock facing the sea.

What they represent

The version told by the tourist office speaks of pirates, sea monsters and the legendary Rothéneuf family, a saga of privateers and smugglers. More recent studies, collected in French Wikipedia, dispute that legend: many figures would portray real figures from the news of his day, such as Jacques Cartier, his favourite subject, Breton saints such as Budoc or Yves, the Boer president Paul Kruger and episodes of the Transvaal war, Gargantua, or scenes evoking China, Russia and Japan. Keep both readings in mind as you walk round the rocks: each explains different faces.

The visit

The route is outdoors, over rock, steps and slopes, and takes about three-quarters of an hour at an easy pace. There is a shop and toilets at the entrance. The ground can be slippery if it has rained or in the sea damp, so the organisation advises good footwear. It is not accessible by wheelchair or pushchair. Dogs are allowed.

Hours and prices

• Adults: €5.
• Children: €3.
• Groups (up to 40 people): €3 per person.

You pay by card, cheque or cash. The hours change according to the season and published listings do not agree; the tourist office marks them as unconfirmed. Call before going (06 68 98 23 95), especially outside summer.

Getting there and parking

The entrance is at 4 chemin des Rochers Sculptés, in Rothéneuf, about 5 km from intra-muros along the coast. The enclosure has parking. If you are on foot, the rocks are next to the GR 34 stretch from Paramé to Rothéneuf, at the end of the route: it is the best way to arrive. To return to the centre without a car, the MAT network city bus serves Rothéneuf; check the line and timetable on its website.

If you are travelling by motorhome, the Les Ilots area is in the same district.

When to go

At high tide the sea breaks at the foot of the figures and the scene gains; at low water you see the base of the cliff and the rocks below better. First thing in the morning or at the end of the afternoon the low light picks out the reliefs better. In summer, mid-afternoon, the narrow path between the rocks fills up.

With children

Children like looking for faces and monsters in the stone: set it up as a game. Hold their hands on the steps and at the edges, which face the sea. It is a short visit, good to combine with a Rothéneuf beach.