Bénodet

The commune of Bénodet is a listed seaside resort which offers numerous activities to locals and visitors alike: Barrière casino, cinema, thalassotherapy, ice cream parlour, golf course, etc.

From Sainte-Marine, you can get to Bénodet either by road (about 5 minutes) or by the pedestrian ferry, a boat that makes the crossing every hour between the two communes during 6 to 8 months of the year.

History of Bénodet :

The first traces of man in Bénodet date back to the Gallo-Roman period. Ruins of a village and a bathing establishment were discovered there.

In the Middle Ages, the town of Bénodet served as an outport for commercial ships carrying goods to Quimper. At the time, barter was an important part of trade, for example, local merchants exchanged Breton fish for grapes and wine with Bordeaux merchants.

It was in the 16th century that this trade became more complicated with the arrival of a brigand warlord, Christophe d’Arradon, who ransomed the merchants located nearby. A dozen Spanish pirates also came to settle in Bénodet in 1648 after having stayed in the Glénan.

Gradually the municipality will develop by creating infrastructure: roads, schools, etc.. With the arrival of the railway in Quimper in 1870, Bénodet will welcome its first tourists. At the end of the 19th century, the commune became a haven for a wealthy population looking for a holiday resort for sea bathing.

During the Second World War, Bénodet was occupied by the Germans who installed a maintenance base for minesweepers and a floating dam to control access to the Odet. Bombings will take place later to neutralize these positions, they will leave some traces on the landscape.

Depuis, la ville a repris son développement en concentrant ses efforts sur le tourisme pour en faire une station balnéaire réputée à l’échelle nationale.Since then, the city has resumed its development by concentrating its efforts on tourism to make it a nationally renowned seaside resort.Depuis, la ville a repris son développement en concentrant ses efforts sur le tourisme pour en faire une station balnéaire réputée à l’échelle nationale.

To discover:

If you wish to go to Bénodet during your stay, here are some ideas for walks or visits:

• Pointe St Gilles which clearly marks the separation between the Odet and the Atlantic Ocean. It is a superb viewpoint over the sea and the surrounding nature.
• The white sea which is a lagoon that fills and empties with the tides. Separated from the Ocean by the Mousterlin dune barrier, its scenery is in perpetual evolution.

Of course, this list is not exhaustive. In addition, the town of Bénodet endeavours to offer a programme of entertainment (concerts, etc.) throughout the season.