Île de Batz

A garden set upon the English Channel

Île de Batz — pronounced "Ba" — is a small paradise of 3.5 km² located just 15 minutes by boat from Roscoff, on the northern coast of Finistère. Thanks to the Gulf Stream that bathes its shores, the island enjoys a remarkably mild microclimate: palm trees, agaves and echiums grow outdoors, sometimes giving the impression of being further south than the Breton coast.

The Georges Delaselle Garden

The jewel of the island, the Georges Delaselle colonial garden brings together over 2,500 species of exotic plants from five continents. Created from 1897 by a Parisian insurance agent with a passion for botany, this 2.5-hectare garden is a horticultural feat. Visitors discover collections of palm trees, South African proteaceae, succulents and New Zealand plants, all set within stabilised dunes.

Beaches and coastal path

The walk around the island along the coastal path takes three to four hours and offers a succession of varied landscapes. Grève Blanche beach, with its fine sand and clear waters, is one of the finest in northern Brittany. The Île de Batz lighthouse, standing 44 metres tall, offers a 360-degree panorama from its summit over the Bay of Morlaix, Roscoff and, on clear days, as far as Île de Sieck.

A living island agriculture

Unlike many islands that have lost their farming activity, Batz retains a thriving agriculture. The island's market gardeners grow early potatoes, artichokes, cauliflowers and shallots in plots sheltered from the wind by tamarisk hedges. Seaweed, harvested from the foreshore, was long an essential resource for enriching the soil.

Practical information

Île de Batz is accessible from Roscoff by Armein ferries (15-minute crossing), with frequent departures year-round. The island is easily explored on foot or by bicycle. There are a few restaurants, guesthouses and a campsite. The Delaselle Garden is open from April to November. Remember to check the tide times: at low tide, the passage between Roscoff and Batz is theoretically walkable, but this crossing is strongly discouraged for the inexperienced.