Île Molène


Scarcely 1km across, Île Molène feels even more remote than its neighbour Île d'Ouessant. It's carless, virtually treeless, home to a declining population of just 169 people (inhabitants are known as Molénais) and its electricity supply depends on a single diesel generator. The island's only village is Le Bourg, a hamlet of whitewashed fishing cottages clustered around a granite quay, with a church. Needless to say, the island can only be explored on foot.

A half-day is all you really need to walk the island's circumference. Another option, which also allows you to investigate the nearby islets, is to hire a kayak or canoe, which can be arranged from the port on arrival. The island has several chambres d'hôte, a campground, a hotel and a list of other properties to rent – check the website for more information.

All ferries to Ouessant stop here en route.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Plage du Prat

7.32 MILES

Small sheltered beach towards the southern tip of the island.

2. Plage de Corz

7.33 MILES

The best beach on the island, west-facing, to the south of Lampaul.

3. Écomusée d'Ouessant

8.33 MILES

Two traditional local houses make up this small but rewarding ecomuseum. One re-creates a traditional homestead, furnished like a ship's cabin, with…

4. Musée des Phares et des Balises

9.01 MILES

The black-and-white-striped Phare de Créac'h is one of the world's most powerful lighthouses. Beaming two white flashes every 10 seconds and visible for…

5. Pointe de Pen-Hir

18.31 MILES

Three kilometres southwest of Camaret, this spectacular and sublime headland is bounded by steep, sheer sea cliffs. On a peninsula known for its…

6. Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Rocamadour

18.62 MILES

Its timber roof like an inverted ship's hull, the 17th-century Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Rocamadour at the Pointe de Rocamadour is dedicated to the sailors…

7. Pointe de Dinan

21.27 MILES

The cliffs of Pointe de Dinan, 6.5km west of Crozon, provide a dramatic outlook over the sands of Anse de Dinan and the rock formations locally known as…

8. Tour Tanguy

21.3 MILES

Inside this 14th-century tower, displays on Brest's history include a sobering reminder of what Brest looked like on the eve of WWII. One display…