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The
Guesclin Cove (Anse du Guesclin) |
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Between
the “Pointe du Nid” and the “Pointe des Grands Nez”, a
superb beach of fine sand borders the “Anse du Guseclin”,
historic cradle of Saint-Coulomb.
It is indeed on this beach that towards 580, Colomban,
the Irish monk who gave his name to the commune, arrived.
He founded a monastery and remained there before leaving
to evangalise Europe |
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Later, in about
800, the ancestors of the Constable of France, Bertrand du
Guesclin, built on the small island in the east of the beach a
fortress, probably on the ruins of a Roman construction. The
lords of Guarplic (old C-W communication of du Guesclin) reigned
there until 1250. They then set up a fortress inside the
grounds, the Plessis-Bertrand, on the territory of
Saint-Coulomb.
At the XVIIIème century, the old fortress of Guesclin was
transformed into fort to ensure the defense of the littoral
against enemy and pirate attacks. |
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Léo Férré lived on
this small island in the Sixties with his monkey Pépé.
At low tide, one can walk around the small island which is still
private property.
The beach is bordered by dunes. These suffered at the end of the
Sixties from the extractions from sand intended for construction
for the Barrage de la Rance. Its classification as a natural
site allowed the restoration of these dunes. Plantations of sea
reeds ensured the reimplantation of a whole flora specific to
this area (panicaut maritime, marine crist, pourpier of
sands...) and of a varied fauna (skylark, pipit farlouse,
wheatear...) |
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Widely visited in the summer, the beach
is supervised during the tourist season. An armchair "Hippocampus"
facilitates the access to the sea with the people with reduced mobility.
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The
beach of “la Touesse” |
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One reaches this beach by the
GR. 34 or D 201 which skirts the coast between Cancale and
Saint-Malo. The path known as "Le Blé en Herbe" reminds us that
Colette spent long holidays here. It is indeed in 1911 that the
marchioness of Morny acquired in the name of her friend Sidonie-Gabrielle
Colette, the house Roz Ven, located directly on the beach of
Touesse. |
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Colette stayed there regularly from 1911
to 1926. She wrote her novel "Le Blé en Herbe" which tells the loves of
2 teenagers, in a strongly impregnated atmosphere of this wild
framework. It is Colette who carried out the plantations which today
still surround the house.
At the top of the beach sea reeds have been planted protected by the
ganivelles ones from wood. This is fine sandy beach, sheltered from
dominant winds, is particularly appreciated by tourists and colombanais.
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Separated from the beach
close to the point “des Petits Nez”, the beach of the Port
prolongs the bay, joining the neighboring beaches at low tide.
In its Western part, the handle of Courtils, it shelters a small
natural port where some boats are moored, bringing a key
colouring to the wild nature of the landscape. |
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Behind the beach, extends a vast " perched dune" of 6,5 ha. A sanded
terrace leaning on a dead cliff which can reach at certain places 25 m
height, this dunaire formation is covered with a close-cropped lawn
where wild orchids, panicauts maritime, géraniums, euphorbiums
flower....
The winter storms and visitors have unfortunately degraded this whole
area which is currently being restored.
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The
beach of “la Guimorais" |
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This vast beach extends along
the dunes from Chevrets, which connects the Point of Meinga to
the Island Besnard in the west. This sandy arrow worked by the
wind and the currents is the only littoral of Ille and Vilaine.
At the top of the dune sea reeds are planted and protected from
trampling by the ganivelles ones. In the west of the beach, the
small islands of “Petits and Grands Chevrets” (natural Reserve),
accessible at low tide, lodge a population of wall lizards,
shelter crested cormorants, terns and seagulls. |
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The beach is visted but its
great spaces ensure peace and quiet. A rescue station, equipped
for the handicapped people with an armchair "Hippocampus" is
open during the tourist season. |
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