heritage

History

Bénodet, today a well-known seaside resort on the Cornouaille coast, has always been recognised for the geographical interest of the mouth of the Odet, navigable as far as Quimper. It’s location is the source of its Breton name which means “the head of the Odet”. During the whole of the Middle Ages, Bénodet served as the commercial port for Quimper for the traffic of cereals, wines, cloth, wood, fish and other coastal shipping to Spain, Bordeaux, England and Holland.

The current development of Bénodet started at the beginning of the last century with the development of tourism and the passion for ocean bathing and then sailing. Its charms, combining the rural gentleness of its river with the severity of the ocean, give Bénodet its special climate so appreciated by those that discover it.

Talented writers such as Emile Zola, André Suarez, Frédéric le Guyader, Guillaume Apollinaire have translated their emotions there. Numerous painters have idealised these moments of light and emotion such as André Dauchez, Lucien Simon, Eugène Boudin.

Churches

Saint-Thomas Church

This church, located at the port, is dedicated to Saint Thomas Becket. Built in the XIII century, it originally consisted of just a nave and a small bell tower. It was enlarged during the XVI century and the XIX century with reuse of the old elements.

Times of services: Service in English, Sundays at noon in July and August.

Church of  Notre Dame de la Mer

Church of contemporary architecture, built in 1968 on the Avenue de la Mer.

Curiosity: A wooden pieta from the end of the XV century.

Seaside Museum

The museum is open every day (except Tuesday and Wednesday) from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm.


Open every day in July and August.


Exhibition: “Art de vivre à la mer".

Let's discover old photos, movies which illustrate the leisures, way of life from the beginning of the 20th until nowadays. The museum is a nice place to visit for the all family.

Exhibition 2012-2014 : "A bord des paquebots" (Welcome aboard on french liners)

Starting from april 2012,  embark for a two-year trip with the French Lines. The Seaside Museum presents an exhibition around the finer things in life on Liners.

Visitors and their family will discover throughout Illustrations, Films and models a great era.

Two main views will be illustrated: The leisure on board in 2012 and gastronomy in 2013.

 Exhibition produced and realised by Bénodet in association with The French-Lines organization and the help of a specialist of the Liners’ History, Franck SENANT.

Entrance fee:
Adult:2€
Children (0 to 18): free.


Openings for groups.

Reservation required.
Tourist Office Tel : 02.98.57.00.14

Chapel of Perguet

Located alongside the road between Bénodet and Fouesnant, it was the parish church of Bénodet until 1878. Its roman part was built in the XI century.

The enclosure that surrounds the church was an ancient cemetery. Its Calvary, restored in 1989, represents St. Laurent and St. Brigitte, the two saints the church is dedicated to.  The statuary, the altar and the windows have been restored and have a high quality polychrome.

The church can be visited until 30th of September every day, except tuesday and wednesday, from 10am to 1pm and from 2pm to 6pm.

Lighthouses

The Pyramid Lighthouse

With a height of 48 metres, it was constructed as a replacement for an old marker in the form of a pyramid which served as a reference point for sailors entering the Odet.

The Cockerel Lighthouse 

Beaconing by alignment with the Pyramid Lighthouse at the entrance to the Odet, it owes its name to an immerged rock whose strange shape looks like a Cockerel.