Pointe Du Grouin
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Why go
- The walk around the headland on the Grande Randonnée footpath, which hugs the cliff face
- The Phare de la Pierre-de-Herpin, a 28-metre white lighthouse on a reef about 2800 metres offshore
- The view from cap Fréhel to Granville, over the Mont Saint-Michel bay and the Îles Chausey
- The cave dug into the cliff, reached on foot at low tide along the GR 34 path
With kids
- Walkers can see Île des Landes, a barren outcrop that is now a bird sanctuary.
- Cormorants, shags, shelducks and oystercatchers nest on the nearby islands.
- Four reptile species live on the headland, including an adder that is endangered in the region.
- The bunkers serve as winter shelter for bats.
- The lighthouse can be seen from the walking route.
Tips for your visit
- Expect crowds: peak visitor numbers can exceed 3,000 a day.
- The headland has two restaurants and a hotel for visitors.
Best time to visit
- Come on a clear day to see the outline of Mont Saint-Michel from the walking route.
Know before you go
- The GR 34 path leads to a cave dug into the cliff only at low tide.
Shorts
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Cancale et la Pointe du GrouinLe Monde à portée de roues
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Pointe du Grouin | Cancale, BretagneRegard de corsaire
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Pointe du GrouinW-GNP
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La pointe du Grouin à CancaleJulien Lechevestrier
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Pointe du Grouin : 360° de vue, le Mont-Saint-Michel à 30 kmArchipel Capital
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SORTIE 6 - La Pointe du Grouin - Cancale (35) - PARTIE 2VAST HORIZON
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la Pointe du GrouinJ D 34
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Pointe du GrouinSvitlana Makarenko
Interesting facts5
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Its name refers to a rocky tip likened to a pig's snout.
Pointe du Grouin (Ille-et-Vilaine) - Wikipedia -
The cliffs are mainly granodiorite and trondhjemite, a plutonic rock.
Pointe du Grouin - Wikipedia -
555 million
The granite here was dated to roughly 555 million years ago.
Pointe du Grouin (Ille-et-Vilaine) - Wikipedia -
The semaphore also directs sea rescue operations and serves as a weather station.
Pointe du Grouin - Wikipedia -
The Route du Rhum, a solo transatlantic race, starts between the mainland and the lighthouse every four years.
Pointe du Grouin - Wikipedia
History
A stone hotel was built here in 1936, and tourism grew after paid holidays spread that year.
- 1861A semaphore station was built on the headland to watch passing ships.
- 1876Construction of the Phare de la Pierre-de-Herpin lighthouse began.
- 1930The site was legally protected under a 1930 law on natural monuments.
- 1936A stone hotel was built on the headland.
- Second World WarA network of wartime bunkers was built here; remains can still be seen.
Show all
- 1961The headland became a nature reserve.
- 1970The lighthouse was electrified.
- 1974The current semaphore building replaced the old one.
Sources: Pointe du Grouin - Wikipedia · Pointe du Grouin - Wikipedia · Pointe du Grouin (Ille-et-Vilaine) - Wikipedia · checked 26 Oct 2026
Plan from here: Evening walk →
Questions and answers
How do I get to Pointe du Grouin from Cancale?
The headland can be reached on a circular walk that begins in Cancale. It lies about four kilometres north of the town.
How far is Pointe du Grouin from Cancale?
It is the northernmost point of Cancale and lies about four kilometres north of the town.
Can you see Mont Saint-Michel from Pointe du Grouin?
On clear days the walking route gives a view of the outline of Mont Saint-Michel. The view also reaches Granville and the Îles Chausey.
Is there a lighthouse at Pointe du Grouin?
The Phare de la Pierre-de-Herpin rises 28 metres on a reef roughly 2800 metres offshore. Walkers on the route can see it.
How many people visit Pointe du Grouin?
Visitor numbers are between 600,000 and a million, and on peak days they can exceed 3,000 a day.
Are there places to eat at Pointe du Grouin?
Two restaurants and a hotel serve visitors on the headland.
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