Falstaff:
I will not lend thee a penny.Pistol:
Why then the world’s mine oyster,
Which I with sword will open.Falstaff:
Not a penny.
This famous quote from William Shakespeare’s celebrated The Merry Wives of Windsor ran through my mind a few weeks ago when I travelled to the idyllic seaside village of Cancale (pronounced: con-karl) in north-west France for a surprise day-trip.
Cancale lies effortlessly on the coast just east of the popular Saint-Malo in Brittany. It is like stepping out of reality and into a painting. A string of small houses and restaurants cling to the shoreline like little dolls’ houses, lined up impeccably with a delicate touch of fantasy and romance. The village is so exquisitely picturesque attracting many visitors, many who are drawn by its reputation of the ‘oyster capital’ of France.
Cancale is, quite simply, a village that celebrates the small things in life – the love for food, the love for family and the respect for Mother Nature. Lining the water-front are countless cafés and restaurants all serving local seafood and produce. Any of the restaurants guarantee a good, local feed, using only the freshest and most divine ingredients. If you want something a little more fancy for a special occasion, the restaurant La Maison Blanche along the waterfront offers amazing service and fresh seafood with an interesting gastronomical twist.
Small food stalls are dotted along the beach, selling fresh oysters and other crustaceans. This is cuisine at its freshest and its best. You can come and sit along the ledge on the shoreline watching the hustle and bustle of this small town whilst feasting on only the finest seafood, at a very reasonable price. Below the ledge is a shoreline littered with a sea of empty oyster shells and lemon halves, a sneaky reminder of Cancale’s love for taste and simplicity.
The eight square kilometers of oyster beds can easily be seen from the pier or the harbor when the tide is out. These beds are the major activity at the port each year and harvest up to 25,000 tonnes of oysters per year. That, my friends, is a casual 500,000 normal-sized elephants worth of oysters! The quality of the Cancale oysters are well-reputed across the nation and even the world. Even France’s Louis XIV sat on his glitzy throne at Versailles and ordered oysters from Cancale – a bit like 17th century takeaways!
After exploring the beautiful Cancale, head out on foot to the Pointe du Gruoin for a stunning view across to Mont Saint Michel (weather-permitting!) before returning to the township later for a mug of local apple cider. Sounds pretty good to me!
William Shakespeare was right. The world is our oyster. The world’s riches are ours to leisurely pluck from its shell if we so desire. And why shouldn’t we?! Life is too short not to.
(Article and photos by Sarah Reese)
The picturesque township of Cancale, Brittany.
The Cancale waterfront, France.
A taste of Brittany; the Cancale oyster stalls.
The reasonably priced oyster stalls at the French seaside village, Cancale.
Enjoy your meal?! French cuisine at its best.
Hi Sarah, Congratulations.
Great article – up there with the best of them. Looks very
interesting place, little bit like old England. ( bit outspoken I
guess) On our visit to France in 2008, we made the trip
out to Mont Saint Michel, with an organised trip with Paris
Vision, offices along by Joan of Arc statue across the road from the Louvre.
Long day – 6.30am to 9.30pm, but really well worth the effort,
and the weather gave us 2 seasons in 1 day – rain and plenty
of sunshine – Just the ideal conditions to see the wonderful
castle, and listen to the history of the area.
So much to see, and often not alot of time. Certainly have to
make the most of the moments. !!!!!
Best of luck. Rose & Vic. Auckland.
Hi John, looks like you’re having a fabulous time, and it’s only weeks away before I head over there (though not quite that far north). When are you back in NZ? You have a number of important messages waiting for you.