Aber Wrac'h

The Aber Wrac'h is a small village and port located on the river Wrac'h in the commune of Landéda in the department of Finistère in France, located in Brittany.

Aber Wrac'h
Typical Coast of L'Aberwrac'h

The Wrac'h's source is in Trémaouézan. It travels through Ploudaniel, Le Folgoët, Lannilis and Plouguerneau and enters the ocean in the estuary between the Sainte Marguerite peninsula and the headland of the Virgin Island.

Origin of the name

The Aber Wrac'h derives its name from the first immersed rock of its channel, “Ar Gwrach” which means “the old woman” (the fish).

An alternative theory is that the name is derived from the “estuary of the fairy” which may be related to the alleged Gallo-Roman bridge located upstream of the river mouth (ruins still visible today) named Bridge of the Devil.

See also: Aber and Inver as place-name elements

British accounts of the 18th and 19th Century give the town's name as Averach.

History

The United States Navy established a naval air station on 4 June 1918 to operate seaplanes during World War I. The base closed shortly after the First Armistice at Compiègne.[1]

Islands in the vicinity of Aber Wrac'h

They following archipelago is also referred to as the islands of Lilia :

  • Cézon island and its Fort
  • Wrac'h Island
  • Stagadon island
  • Island of Erch
  • Island of the Cross

Recreation

The town is a popular location and base for sailing, windsurfing and kitesurfing.[2][3][4]

Marina of L'Aberwrac'h...
...with pole-mounted floating bridges: at low tide...
...and high tide
Cats are moored outside

References
  1. Van Wyen, Adrian O. (1969). Naval Aviation in World War I. Washington, D.C.: Chief of Naval Operations. p. 65.
  2. Aber Wrac'h Kitebeaches.com Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  3. UCPA Aber Wrac'h Bretagne Kitesurf
  4. WindGURU: France - L'Aber Wrac'h



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