Penfoulic Wood

A history shaped by water

Here, everything begins with water. For centuries, the local people have made the most of this exceptional site.
As early as the 17th century, a tide mill and a dyke were built to create a small pond where mussels could be reared.

In the 19th century, the visionary Charles-Bernard de Poulpiquet transformed Penfoulic into an aquaculture laboratory: ponds, canals, salmon farming… Nothing was too ambitious! In 1871, a large dam with sluice gates allowed the creation of a vast pond, a veritable nursery for fish and plankton.

But the story of aquaculture came to an end in the 1960s, a victim of silting up and harsh winters. These developments nevertheless had a lasting impact on the landscape, stabilising the sandy spit at Cap-Coz in particular.

An abundance of biodiversity between land and sea

Penfoulic is a kaleidoscope of natural environments, with flora and fauna in every corner. More than 250 plant species flourish here, from majestic oaks, beeches and hornbeams to halophilous plants such as obione and salt meadow sea lavender.

• On the sea side: The waters are home to plaice, gilthead bream, mullet, sea bass and eels. A veritable canteen for migratory birds: sandpipers, little egrets, white spoonbills, seagulls and gulls all meet here.

• On the land: The woods and hedged farmland are home to roe deer, badgers, foxes and squirrels, not to mention a wide variety of insects, dragonflies, amphibians and reptiles. Passerines such as the long-tailed goldfinch sing here all year round.

• As for the animals: keep an eye out for them… and for your binoculars!

The Penfoulic must-sees

• The Shetland ponies

Small, rustic and full of charm, these ponies are the emblematic guests of the site. Descended from the ponies of the island of Loc’h (Glénan archipelago), they play an active role in maintaining the meadows.

• The “Giraffe” of Fouesnant

A majestic 18-metre pedunculate oak, this giant two-hundred-year-old tree is listedas a “remarkable tree in France“. It is nicknamed the Giraffe for its slender silhouette… not to be missed!

• The conservatory orchard

Near the Maison des marais, an orchard preserves the old local varieties of cider and knife apple trees, replanted after the 1987 storm. The site is only accessible once a year, during the Apple Festival in October.

A protected site, accessible to all

The Bois de Penfoulic is a sensitive natural site, managed by the Communauté de Communes du Pays Fouesnantais (CCPF) in conjunction with the Conservatoire du Littoral.
The good news is that it has also been awarded the“Tourisme & Handicap” label! A 650-metre path has been specially laid out, with signs in relief and Braille, and accessible rest areas.