The first traces of human occupation in the Cap Sizun date back 465,000 years. Since the late 1980s, several excavations have unearthed significant archaeological remains, including the collapsed sea cave of Menez Dregan in Plouhinec, revealing several levels of dwellings dating from the Lower Palaeolithic era. This is a key site for studying the first settlements in western Europe, where tools and bones have been discovered, but most notably traces of fires and hearths that are among the oldest in the world.

The Pointe du Raz at Plogoff and Pointe de Kastel Koz in Beuzec-Cap-Sizun were also occupied during the Neolithic period, and several remains of funerary structures are still visible, such as the burial chamber at Menez Dregan or the gallery grave at Pors Poulhan in Plouhinec, making the Cap Sizun a major part of our history.

The Pointe du Raz in the Cap Sizun is the embodiment of a deeply-rooted history, and the local people are fully committed to keeping it alive, with many local initiatives working to preserve this unique heritage. Thanks to the commitment of volunteers, the Cap Sizun has given a new lease of life to its many mills, such as Keriolet water mill in Beuzec-Cap-Sizun and Tréouzien water mill in Plouhinec, plus the windmills at Trouguer in Cléden-Cap-Sizun. Breton culture still holds a special place in our hearts, and the Fête des Bruyères held in Beuzec-Cap-Sizun every August is one of Finistère’s most authentic festivals.

Between the Pointe du Raz and the Île de Sein, there is a narrow 8-km passage known as the Raz de Sein, a seafaring corridor that is extremely dangerous, requiring absolute vigilance from any sailor, however skilled. Lighthouses play a crucial role in navigation here, and one of the most iconic lighthouses is La Vieille, sitting offshore from the Pointe du Raz as if connecting it to the Île de Sein.

Goulenez lighthouse on the Île de Sein offers a breathtaking view of the island and the ocean, while at the end of the Chaussée de Sein, the legendary Ar-Men lighthouse was feared by lighthouse keepers. The mysterious Tévennec lighthouse, situated on a tiny island facing the Baie des Trépassés, sheltered its keepers in very trying living conditions, and was even reputed to be haunted by the noisy waves. Finistère boasts no fewer than 56 lighthouses, each one an historical witness to maritime surveillance.

As well as being a spectacular site of natural beauty, the Pointe du Raz is steeped in legend and mystery, marked by tales of smuggling, shipwrecks and heroism. For centuries, the customs officers and Sénans (inhabitants of the island of Sein) took charge of securing the coastline, carrying out heroic rescues of sailors in peril. Around the Pointe du Raz, several ingenious shelter harbours such as Feunteun Aod, Bestrée, Le Vorlenn, Le Loc’h and Pors Loubous were built to provide a safe haven for sailors during stormy weather. Today, these small harbours continue to evolve to meet the needs of sailors and yachtsmen alike.