Pointe du Raz in Brittany – dramatic cliffs in France

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: September 2026 | Pointe du Raz is one of the most dramatic places on the Brittany coast. Here, high cliffs meet the waves and winds of the Atlantic, and the feeling of being at the very end of the world is palpable. We arrived here during a trip through western Brittany, after traveling through small villages, along narrow roads and past old stone houses.

On the way through western Brittany

As we traveled through Brittany, we were fascinated by the small villages that appeared along the way. Stone houses, churches, and narrow streets sometimes made the landscape feel like a journey back in time.

The roads could be narrow and twisty, especially with a camper van, but if you took it easy you were fine. And there was almost always something new to look at outside the window.

We also noticed that many signs were in two languages: French and Breton. Breton is a Celtic language related to Welsh in Wales and Cornish in Cornwall, among others. All of that became part of the feeling of traveling through Brittany. But the further west we went, the more the landscape changed.

Plogoff in the far west

Eventually we ended up in Plogoff on Cap Sizun, far out in western Brittany. Here the Atlantic feels ever present and it is close to one of the area's most famous natural destinations: Pointe du Raz.

Plogoff is not a place you need to come to for a wide range of attractions. For us, it was above all a base to discover the landscape at the far end of the coast. And what a landscape.

Pointe du Raz – the feeling of the end of the world

Pointe du Raz juts out into the Iroise Sea and is one of Brittany's most famous headlands. The site is classified as Grand Site of France, an award given to particularly valuable and well-visited natural areas that work actively to preserve the landscape.

Here the cliffs rise about 70 meters above the sea. The wind, the waves and the jagged rocks create a landscape that feels both beautiful and a little threatening. As we stood here and looked out over the sea, we really understood why this part of Brittany is so often associated with the feeling of being at the end of the world.

View towards Île de Sein and the La Vieille lighthouse

From Pointe du Raz you can look out towards Île de Sein, the low island that lies out in the sea. When visibility is good you can also see several of the lighthouses that stand out among the rocks and waves. One of the most prominent is The Old One, the lighthouse that stands on a cliff out in the flowing water between Pointe du Raz and Île de Sein.

It's hard not to think of all the ships that have navigated these waters throughout history. The sea is beautiful, but the coastal cliffs and strong currents also make the landscape truly dramatic.

Hike at Pointe du Raz

If you want to experience the area on foot, there are several trails through the coastal landscape. The well-known GR34 hiking trail goes through Cap Sizun and passes Pointe du Raz.

Of course, you don't have to go on a long hike. Even a shorter walk from the visitor area out towards the cape is enough to get close to the cliffs, the heath and the sea.

It is also a landscape that changes with the weather. Sun and blue skies are of course beautiful, but here wind, clouds and dramatic weather almost feel like part of the experience.

More to see around Pointe du Raz

If you have more time, there are several nice places along Cap Sizun. North of Pointe du Raz is Pointe du Van, a lesser-known cape with even more dramatic coastal scenery. The area also includes Baie des Trépassés, a long sandy beach between Pointe du Raz and Pointe du Van.

For those who want to continue exploring the Breton coast, there are also small ports, hiking trails and viewpoints all along Cap Sizun.

Pointe du Raz by motorhome

We came here by camper and stayed overnight in Plogoff. At that time, both the pitches and service looked different than they do today, so our old notes about prices, electricity and payment systems have had to retire.

What we remember the best, however, is the actual driving through the area. The roads through the small villages could be narrow, but that was also part of the experience.

At Pointe du Raz there is parking and a visitor area, from where you continue on foot towards the cape. Rules and fees are subject to change, so check the latest information before your visit.

Is Pointe du Raz worth a visit?

For us, Pointe du Raz was yet another testament to how dramatically beautiful Brittany can be. The journey there was almost as much a part of the experience as the destination itself: the small stone villages, the narrow roads and the feeling of constantly getting further and further out to sea.

And finally we stood there, at the far end of the cliffs, with the Atlantic Ocean in front of us. The old report from this trip was called ”Traveling through Brittany.” Perhaps that was a start. After all, we had only seen a small part of this vast region.

But the feeling we tried to describe then still remains. Brittany felt different. Barren, old, beautiful and a little wild. And out at Pointe du Raz that feeling was strongest.

More to see in Brittany

Want to discover more during your trip to Brittany? Here you will find more reports and tips:

• Cancale
• Camaret-sur-Mer
• Concarneau