Beach
Baie des Trépassés
Cléden-Cap-Sizun · Finistère
Between the Pointe du Raz and the Pointe du Van, the Baie des Trépassés is a huge sandy beach exposed to the Atlantic, known for surfing, its waves, its panorama and swimming that calls for real care.
- Suggested time
- 2 to 5 hours, a full day with a hike
- Type of place
- A great ocean surf beach between the Pointe du Raz and the Pointe du Van
- Atmosphere
- Oceanic, spectacular, sporty and wild
- Getting there
- Baie des Trépassés, between Plogoff and Cléden-Cap-Sizun, at the foot of the Pointe du Raz and Pointe du Van.
Who this place suits
- With family
- 6/10
- As a couple
- 10/10
- With friends
- 10/10
- Solo
- 10/10
- With a dog
- 1/10
- Reduced mobility
- 3/10
These scores are calculated from what the page records: official rating, facilities, difficulty, duration and location. They are a guide, not a substitute for contacting the venue, especially about accessibility.
About
The Baie des Trépassés is one of the great seascapes of the Cap Sizun. It forms a vast arc of sand between the Pointe du Raz and the Pointe du Van, directly exposed to the Atlantic swell. Tourisme Bretagne states that the beach is exposed to the swell, that swimming is forbidden outside lifeguarded hours, and that a SNSM lifeguard post operates in summer from 1.30 pm to 7 pm. Water quality is monitored from 15 June to 15 September 2026, with an excellent recent record. At low tide, caves can appear at the foot of the cliffs, but exploring them calls for great caution. The beach has a car park and toilets. It is above all a surfing and landscape beach, rather than an easy swimming beach.
What you will see
- A large sandy beach open to the Atlantic, very exposed to the swell.
- A great curve of sand between two headlands, the Pointe du Raz and the Pointe du Van.
- Choose your spot according to your level
Practical information
- Services
- Car park, toilets, lifeguard post in season
- Pets
- Not allowed
- Accessibility
- Disabled parking spaces nearby
- Lifeguarded swimming
- SNSM lifeguards in summer from 1.30 pm to 7 pm; swimming forbidden outside lifeguarded hours
- With family
- With children, only in the lifeguarded zone
- Water quality
- Excellent recent record, checks from 15 June to 15 September 2026
- Tides
- A strong influence; at low tide, the beach widens and caves sometimes appear; on a rising tide, side sections are quickly cut off
- Activities
- Surfing, bodyboarding, lifeguarded swimming, hiking, photography, watching the swell
- Safety
- Swimming forbidden outside lifeguarded hours, powerful swell and currents; follow the SNSM flags, do not underestimate the shorebreak, avoid the foot of the cliffs on a rising tide
- Photography
- The heights on the Pointe du Van side or the Pointe du Raz side, the centre of the bay; best light late in the day, spring and September
- Ideal for
- Surfing, photography, hiking, landscape, sunset
- Nearby
- The Pointe du Raz, the Pointe du Van, Plogoff, Cléden-Cap-Sizun, the GR34, Audierne
Tips on the spot
- Check the tide times before you go, and download them for offline use.
- Check the marine weather, swell and wind.
- Read the signs at the entrance and respect the flags and instructions.
- Choose the lifeguarded area when there is one, and do not overestimate your swimming level.
- Watch children at all times, and set a family meeting point.
Show 9 more tipsHide
- Check the water quality in season, and do not swim if there is a ban.
- Arrive early in July and August; June and September are quieter.
- Use sun cream even when the sky is hazy, and keep a windproof layer.
- Respect the dunes and vegetation, and take all your litter home.
- If in doubt about conditions, do not swim.
- In heavy swell, stay well back from the water’s edge.
- Avoid the foot of the cliffs after rain and on a rising tide; keep a wide margin.
- Use the GR34 rather than trampling the vegetation.
- Bring a torch if you are coming back after sunset.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of beach is it?
A great ocean surf beach between the Pointe du Raz and the Pointe du Van.
Why come here?
It is a spectacular beach to enjoy from the sand and the cliffs, unmissable for surfing and photography, but much more demanding for swimming than a classic family beach.
How much time should I allow?
2 to 5 hours, a full day with a hike.
What is the atmosphere like?
Oceanic, spectacular, sporty and wild.
Is swimming lifeguarded?
Yes, SNSM lifeguards in summer from 1.30 pm to 7 pm; swimming is forbidden outside these hours.
Is the water quality monitored?
Yes, with an excellent recent record.
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Read in the journal
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Photographs: Moreau.henri · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Selmoval · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · superp1errot · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons