cancale

CANCALE, THE TRUE TASTE OF THE SEA
Delimiting by the West the Bay of the Mount-Saint-Michel, Cancale profits from an advanced position on the coast and owes the majority of its resources to the sea. If the city developed vis-a-vis to the bay in a position of shelter, a part of the littoral turns to the Coast of Emeraude and its rocky bars to the west of the Point of Grouin.
On board the Cancalian bisquine(fishing boat), safe from its creeks and its beaches or on the panoramic points of view of Coastguard and the Point of Grouln, Cancale offers a privileged framework to fully live the sea and to meet the several activities of the Bay. In the port of the Houle, in Port Mer or in the interior of the country, the famous kitchen of its chiefs invites to discover the rich savours of the sea and the territory."We Cancalians, jealously knew to protect our sites, our products and our environment to hide all the year... but also to allow you to discover them in any season".

THE OYSTERS OF CANALE
From the time of the "caravan" where the bisquines dredged the natural benches of oysters ,the oysters worked the landscape and the men and the women of Cancale. Born in 1858 following the impoverishment of the natural layers, ostreiculture evolves at the rhythm of the epidemics and the technical evolutions.
Today, the flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) is cultivated in deep water concessions at a rate of 1000 tons each year. The hollow oyster (Crassostrea gigas) is cultivated on the 400 hectares of bay parks of Cancale, in pockets on elevated tables of 50 cm which one can see during a low tide. After 3 or 4 years of enlargement during which the pockets are turned over several times, the oyster is collected, washed and sorted according to the size. It has a characteristic salted savour, a full taste; its flesh is firm and flexible at the same time. Its production is between 3 and 4000 tons each year. The Brotherhood of "Rîtes" (the cancalian oysters) born in 1991 ensures the promotion of oyster in all the meetingg of the brotherhoods in which it takes part. As for ostreiculture, it is told to you in the Sea Farm.

BISQUINE
A the time of the sailing navy, the harbour of Houle did not count less than 200 bisquines that are devoted to fishing.Exceptional boats for work, the Bisquines of Cancale were also famous for their speed in regatta.The regattas were the occasion for the cancalian sailors to compete with Granvillais. In the years 1980, the Cancalian Bisquine Association is created so that this emblematic element of the maritime inheritance of the Tray of Cancale.According to the plans of the Bisquine "the Pearl" built in 1905 revives, the Bisquine "Cancalaise" is put in construction on the port of Houle in June 1985.Since April 1887, "Cancalaise" sails and represents Cancale and its maritime past in the meetings in Brittany and elsewhere. Each one can come to pose his bag and have a good time of an exit: stroll around, archipelago of chausey, cruisings, classes of sea, original publicity. With its 350 m2 of canvas, the bisquine is a unique opportunity to discover the sea. It awaits its sailors

THE SEA AND ITS PLEASURES
In the shelter of the dominant winds and at the rhythm of the spring tides of Europe, Cancale allows the practice of multiple activities related to the sea on its various maritime frontages. Concerning the bay, the safety of navigation and the facility of damping offer to the marina ideal conditions with more than 500 places of Houle in Port-Sea. A hold of setting to water is available all the year in the handle of Port-Picain. The nautical sail and activities in all kinds are found in the handle(anse) of Port-Mer: the School of sailing makes it possible to the beginners to be initiated with the sailing with a varied flotilla of optimists, 420 and Hobbicats. The Nautical Club organizes animations throughout the year and in particular the catamaran raid in the bay. If you prefer an exit on board traditional boats, the members of association Voile-Aviron will make you discover navigation on board skiffs of Ness or dory.
As far as fishing is concerned, the presence of many species throughout the year makes it possible to pass good moments at sea. If you prefer to remain on ground, you can fish from the multiple rocky Points which are as many stations or test the technique of surf-casting on the great beaches. Concerning the sand, with the calms of the beach of Port-Mer or with the wonderful air of the beach of the Orchard, you will be able to taste the joys of the bathe thanks to the quality of water. During the summer, these beaches are the theatre of animations that are organized by the Office of tourism: tournaments of beach-volleyball, games for the kids, and discovery of the marine environment.

CANCALE ON FOOT.....
Cancale has many hidden attractions which are discovered at the rhythm of the walking. The port of the Swell developed in a situation of natural shelter on the foot of cliff; protection was reinforced by the construction of two piers, the Pier of the Window following which is settled the oysters walk and the Hold of the Ear that is a rare monument in its architecture and it is registered within the inventory of the Historic buildings. It is on the foot - of this hold that the Cancalian bisquine spends the winter while waiting to take again the sea. Formerly a true nest for the flotilla of fishing, the port shelters today the barges of the oyster culturists and about fifteen fishing vessels which Cancale account today. In the middle of the port, you will be able to make a halt in the Market in Marée rebuilt in the 8o’s and which accomodates in summer the exhibitions of Arts.
In Houle, walk in the network of the "rear streets " which is spread out between the sea front and the cliff. You will discover there small houses of sailors with narrow frontages; some are decorated with the statuettes of the Virgin which are, at the evening of August 15, as many stages of the religious procession of the resting places, and a ceremony took place thanking the Virgin protection of the sailors. By leaving the port to come to the borough located on the high part of the city, you will take the Vau-Baudet, the current road of the Port. The square of the church, current square of the Republic, accomodates since December 31, 1999, the statues of Cancalians at work, that is an homage paid by the town of Cancale to the place of the women in the development of ostreiculture during the past centuries.Besides the square, you will be able to visit the Museum of sculpted Wood that is open in summer which shelters scenes of the life sculpted by by the Quémerais Abbot. To reach the bell-tower of the church will be for you the occasion to discover the great panorama on the oyster beds and the parks of the Mount-Saint-Michel. The old church, the Saint-Méen church registered with the inventory of the Historic buildings, was built in the XVlllth century on, the plans of Garangeau, a follower of J Vauban. It shelters the Museum of Arts and the Popular Traditions where you will discover the life and the history of Cancale.As far as nature is concerned nature, you will taste calms it of the 11 km of the Path of Customs.From the cornice overhanging the port of Houle to the Point of Nid dominating the small beach of the Port, all your senses will be in awakening: floral scents of the morning in spring, imposing panorama of the Point of Grouin and Bay, animated beaches of Port Sea and the Orchard, the birds on the island Landes, movements of the boats regaining their damping. At various stages of the path, you will be able to return to the starting point by the country lanes of the interior.