It is not necessarily a city that we know for the ocean linings that seek stop. Even if the activity existed there for a while. But Brest, Finistère, is now displayed as a “step of step” more and more cruise companies that surf the region.
More than 30,000 cruise passengers were scheduled for 2025
It was from the end of the Covidid period that the cruise activity has taken off in the city of Brest. From 20,000 wholesale visitors before the pandemic, we went to 26,000 in 2024 for a figure that could approach 31,000 parking cruise lines for the current year. What to energize the city in a tourist and commercial level since for the occasion the financial benefits of the Municipality could revolve around 2 million euros.
In all, it should be about twenty ships from different companies that should stop on Brest, between this spring and autumn. And to the key some specific animations for cruise sites, a free shuttle service for the city center and various scheduled excursions to discover Quimper or the Costa di Finistère.
What to see in Brest?
City of (Re) Recent buildings following the whims of the last war, Brest is for many simple points of crossing between the North and the South of Finistère, or when we decided to follow the coast.
However, this department of department (the prefecture is in Quimper) and a maritime prefecture deserves at least a few hours to stop for a discovery of the city and its surroundings.
The city and its museums
Naval base
Brest has the second French naval base, after Toilet. In summer, free guided tours are offered (only for citizens of the European Union or NATO) and allow you to discover part of the Arsenale and in particular in the history of the places.
Fort Montarey
This military work on the outskirts of Brest dates back to Vauban’s time. It was transformed into a commemorative-museum dedicated to Finistère during the Second World War.
Museum of Fine Arts
This museum above all presents a panorama of French and Italian painting over the centuries.
Marino National Museum
It hosts a collection of models of ships, paintings, sculptures, various objects that testify to the history of the Brest Arsenal and the French Navy. It is in the castle that it is also home to the Maritime Prefecture.
Oceanopolis
The place is a showcase for the sea sciences. In all of them they are about fifty aquariums for a good marine species corresponding to three different environments: temperate, polar and tropical. Various temporary exhibitions and free conferences are also scheduled every year.
Brest Business Port
In addition to its maritime and commercial vocation, the port is also a lively and festive place with many bars, restaurants and events as for a few years “Port Thursday”.
The cable car
Inaugurated in 2016, this small urban cable car connects the two banks of the Penfeld. It allows you to have a beautiful view of a part of the city and the port.
Tangy Tour
Otherwise called “Old Brest Museum”. It is a free municipal museum with various historical documents and models that will reconstruct the city before 1939 (before its destruction during the war). The tower dates back to the XIVAnd century.
Nature Brest
Explorers garden
It hosts the botanical species reported by all over the world by explorers and botanists who have left Brest. A Belvedere offers a splendid view of the Foce of the Penfeld river and the Brest Harbour.
Mulino Bianco
It is both a beach and the tourist port of the bast agglomerate. This is also where the Oceanopolis Scientific Culture Center and Spadium Park are located, which is the largest space for water free time in Brittany.
Wallone Du Stang-Alar
This valley on the outskirts of Brest was arranged as a botanical winter garden. It is specially dedicated to threatened extinction plants. A landscape park of 22 hectares and different tropical greenhouses complete the place.