Roscoff, Harbor commune in Finistère, France
Roscoff is a small town on the northwestern coast of Brittany in France, with several beaches and a deep harbor. Narrow streets lined with grey stone houses lead down to the waterfront, where quays and docks line up for ferries and fishing boats.
The town began in the Middle Ages as a small fishing harbor and grew over the centuries into an important point for trade with England. In the 20th century, the modern deep-water port was built, now supporting regular ferry routes to Ireland and Britain.
The town name possibly comes from a Breton word meaning rocky headland, reflecting its position on a granite peninsula. Visitors today walk down to the harbor, where fishing boats tie up beside modern ferry terminals and reveal the working maritime life of the region.
The town sits on the main road between Morlaix and the northern coast and is accessible by car or regional bus. Visitors can cross directly from here to the nearby island Île de Batz or walk along coastal paths heading east or west.
For centuries, merchants from here traveled to England and Scotland with large quantities of pink onions, selling them door to door. Some of these traders spent the entire summer in British towns and returned home only in autumn.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
