Glénan islands
Encyclopedia
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. They are located in the south of Finistère
Finistère
Finistère is a département of France, in the extreme west of Brittany.-History:The name Finistère derives from the Latin Finis Terræ, meaning end of the earth, and may be compared with Land's End on the opposite side of the English Channel...
, near Concarneau
Concarneau
Concarneau is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.The town has two distinct areas: the modern town on the mainland and the medieval Ville Close, a walled town on a long island in the centre of the harbour. Historically, the old town was a centre of shipbuilding...
and Fouesnant
Fouesnant
Fouesnant is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.It lies on the south coast of Finistère and is bordered by the communes of: Bénodet and Pleuven to the west, Saint-Évarzec to the north, and La Forêt-Fouesnant to the east...
, and comprise seven major islands: Saint-Nicolas, the Loc'h, Penfret, Cigogne, Drenec, Bananec, and Brunec. In addition, there are over a dozen smaller islets.
The Glénan islands have been home to the Glénans sailing school
Les Glénans
Les Glénans is a famous French sailing school, operating as a non-profit organization. Most of its instructors are volunteers. It was founded in 1947 by Philippe and Hélène Viannay, who had been involved with the French Resistance during World War II. Its first site was the Glénan archipelago,...
since it was founded in 1947. An international diving school is also present on the islands.
Île aux Moutons, half way to continent, is considered to be a part of the archipelago.
The islands are a popular tourist destination, particularly as a daytrip for those holidaying in the rest of Finistère. Both the presence of a shallow seabed and the availability of a catamaran
Catamaran
A catamaran is a type of multihulled boat or ship consisting of two hulls, or vakas, joined by some structure, the most basic being a frame, formed of akas...
with windows in its base have greatly contributed to this. It is difficult to stay on the islands overnight, as there is no hotel, and camping is forbidden. One or two small guesthouses exist.
The islands are powered by a combined power plant.
Administratively, the islands belong to the commune of Fouesnant.