At a glance
Le Diben harbour, Plougasnou
30 to 45 min from Plougasnou depending on the tide, 15 min from Carantec
About 1 hour
Required, on the official website
Yes, a baby carrier is recommended
Not allowed, except guide and assistance dogs
The Château du Taureau is a fortress built on an islet in the middle of the Bay of Morlaix. It can only be reached by boat, with advance booking, from Le Diben harbour in Plougasnou or Kelenn beach in Carantec. Allow about an hour for the visit itself, plus the crossing.
Château du Taureau and Île Louët · Photo: Sky Art’s Production
A stone vessel at the mouth of the Morlaix river
The Château du Taureau stands on a rocky islet in the middle of the Bay of Morlaix, between the shores of Plougasnou and Carantec. Its long silhouette seems to float between Île Louët, Île Callot and the channels once used by merchant ships.
The visit begins before you even go inside. Approaching by boat makes its role clear: to watch over the only passage large ships could use and to protect the port of Morlaix.
Nearly five centuries of maritime history
In 1522, Morlaix was looted and set on fire by English sailors. The town, then prosperous thanks to the linen cloth trade, decided to fund its own defence.
The first fort
The people of Morlaix pay for a fortification on the rock to control the channel.
Vauban’s mark
The fort is almost entirely rebuilt and enlarged as part of the modernisation of the Breton coastline.
A prison at sea
Prisoners held under lettres de cachet (royal warrants) are locked up here, followed by political prisoners.
Summer residence, then sailing school
After a period in private hands, the site becomes a major sailing school.
Restoration
The monument is saved from ruin and reopened to the public.
Architecture shaped by the rock
The present building is about 60 metres long and 12 metres wide. Its elongated shape follows the islet. The granite for the rebuilding came partly from nearby Île Callot: moving stone, men and materials to the rhythm of the tides already made the work site anything but ordinary.
Eleven casemates could hold cannons aimed at the channel. The fort also housed quarters for soldiers and officers, two dungeons, a canteen, a kitchen and a chapel. With no source of fresh water, a cistern collected rainwater.
What you will discover during the stop
The discovery visit begins with a talk of about twenty minutes by the château team, followed by free exploration of the monument. Allow about an hour on the fort.
The inner courtyard
The rock still shows through in the middle of the building, a reminder of the constraints the builders faced.
The casemates
Vaulted rooms that held the cannons guarding the channel.
The dungeons
Traces of the long period when the fort was a prison.
The terrace
A clear view over the bay, Plougasnou, Carantec and the nearby islands.
A visitor booklet, giant games and telescopes are provided free of charge, and the shop is in the former chapel. So the visit is much more than a pretty panorama, even if the panorama does its job very well.
Domaine de Mesqueau, 870 route de Mesqueau, Plougasnou
Le Diben harbour, boarding for the Taureau
Video: Site et Légende Bretagne.
Visiting the Taureau with children
Arriving by boat, the vaulted passages and the prisoners’ stories bring the visit to life straight away, including for younger children.
- With a baby: a baby carrier is recommended; a pushchair is strongly discouraged because of the many steps.
- With children: a visitor booklet, giant games and telescopes are lent free of charge on site.
- With teenagers: extend the day on the wild coast of Plougasnou or with a supervised water activity.
Good to know
- The fort can never be reached on foot, whatever the tidal coefficient.
- Booking required, whatever the time of year.
- No toilets on the fort: there are facilities at the boarding points and on the boat.
- Bring comfortable shoes, a windproof jacket, sun protection and water.
- Many steps and slipways that can be slippery: the visit is not possible in a wheelchair. If you have limited mobility or need adapted assistance, contact the château team before booking.
A day around the Taureau
Boarding at Le Diben and approaching the bay by sea.
A break in Plougasnou or a picnic facing the sea.
A walk to Pointe de Primel on the GR34 coastal path.
From the Domaine de Mesqueau
Le Diben harbour, the beaches of Plougasnou and Pointe de Primel are close by. After your trip out to sea, come back to the calm of wooded, pedestrian-only grounds, a premium cottage and the heated indoor pool.
Frequently asked questions
No. It remains surrounded by the sea whatever the tidal coefficient. The visit requires a booked crossing.
From Le Diben harbour in Plougasnou or Kelenn beach in Carantec, according to the official timetable.
About an hour on the fort, plus boarding and the crossing. From Plougasnou, the trip takes about 2½ hours; from Carantec, about 2 hours.
Yes, with a baby carrier. The many steps make a pushchair very impractical.
No, neither on the boat nor in the château. Only guide and assistance dogs are admitted, after notifying the team.
No. The access slipways and the layout of the monument do not allow it.
