The island of Sein

The island of Sein, out of time and out of the world, is a unique place, isolated in its reef gangue and its spray, which was once submerged by the ocean. Humans have clung to it like barnacles since prehistoric times, protected from the rest of the world by the ferocity of its environment.

Situated at the entrance to the English Channel and an essential passageway for shipping lanes, the Ile de Sein has been renowned in turn for its shipwreckers and rescuers. Its shores abound with reefs and wrecks, and the lighthouses of La Vieille and Ar-Men guide ships with their reassuring beams. In contrast to this grandiose nature, the human presence stands out for its generosity and solidarity.

History is there to remind us of the 700 shipwrecked sailors welcomed in 1796 on an island plagued by famine, or the embarkation of 150 sailors and fishermen for England at the call of General De Gaulle. In the face of adversity, the people of Sénans stick together, just as their white houses with coloured shutters are clustered around narrow streets.

Among other curiosities, you'll come across a few women wearing the "jibilinenn", the black mourning headdress adopted in 1886 during the last cholera epidemic. It's worth noting that the island of Sein is exempt from all property taxes, a meagre compensation for the harshness of island life. The proverb says: "He who sees Sein sees its end". Go there without fear, you'll find authenticity.