THE CLOSE CITY

When visiting Concarneau, don't forget to stop off at the Ville Close, the town's historic center. It's one of the symbols of the Breton coast, with a history going back several centuries and characterized by granite walls almost three meters high. Imagine an (almost) medieval fortress on the water, in the middle of the marina, encircled by immense walls: you're back in the Middle Ages! Situated on an islet 350 m long and 100 m wide, the city is encircled by imposing ramparts, evocative of the area's military past, which have undergone numerous modifications over the centuries. They have been listed as a Monument Historique since 1899, while other fortifications, notably the Tour du Gouverneur and Tour du Majeur, have been listed since 1913. Its belfry, which dominates the entrance, was built later, but this has not prevented it from becoming the town's emblem. Every year, many visitors enjoy strolling through the narrow streets, some 350 m long. They also discover numerous gardens and ramparts offering a breathtaking view of the Bay of Concarneau, the fishing port and the marina.

The Ville Close is connected to the land by two small bridges leading to an impressive Vauban gateway, which provides access to the small islet on which it stands in the heart of Concarneau. However, connoisseurs prefer to enter via a backdoor entrance: they take the "bac du passage", a small boat that links the Ville Close with the Lanriec district on the other bank. The Ville Close has a small quay to accommodate the ferry and its passengers after the 200 m crossing, which takes just a few minutes. Locals like to call it the world's shortest cruise! As far back as the Middle Ages, a ferryman used to shuttle passengers between the Ville Close (evidence of the ferry's presence from the ^mid-18th century onwards), but the right of passage was long privatized. Over the centuries, the ferry sank several times, due to its poor condition or to bad weather. From the ^20th century onwards, the ferry was used by villagers, fishermen, workers, merchants, housewives and schoolchildren on their way to town. In those days, cruising was done by sculling (i.e., with elbow grease!). Today, visitors climb aboard a small motorboat to reach the Ville Close for the modest sum of 1 euro.