Construction of the semaphore 1861 (≈ 1861)
First building to monitor the boats.
1930
Site protection
Site protection 1930 (≈ 1930)
Ranked a natural monument by law.
1936
Start of mass tourism
Start of mass tourism 1936 (≈ 1936)
Arrangements after paid leave.
1974
New semaphore
New semaphore 1974 (≈ 1974)
Replacement of the 1861 building.
1977
Land acquisitions
Land acquisitions 1977 (≈ 1977)
Department preserves the natural space.
1999
Decommissioning of semaphore
Decommissioning of semaphore 1999 (≈ 1999)
Turned into an exhibition space.
2009
Environmental Management Plan
Environmental Management Plan 2009 (≈ 2009)
Measures to protect biodiversity.
2014
Integration into Natura 2000
Integration into Natura 2000 2014 (≈ 2014)
Special conservation area.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Époux Abegg-Simon - Hotel owners
Managed the establishment since 1936.
Origin and history
The point of the Grouin, located in Cancale en Ille-et-Vilaine, is the northernmost point of the commune. This wild and rocky site, culminating at 40 meters above the sea, offers a panoramic view extending from Cape Fréhel to Granville, passing through the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel and the Chausey Islands. A trail, GR 34, allows you to explore a cave at low tide, while the island of Landes, opposite, houses a bird and botanical reserve. Its name evokes a comparison with the groin of a pig, due to its characteristic rock shape.
The site has been protected since 1930 under the Natural Monuments and Pictures Act. The General Council of Ille-et-Vilaine has acquired land since 1977 to preserve this sensitive natural space. A semaphore, built in 1861 to monitor vessels, was replaced in 1974 by a new vessel. Disused in 1999, the former semaphore now hosts a permanent exhibition on the preservation of the natural sites of the Emerald Coast.
The tip of the Groin has been part of the Natura 2000 network since 2014, home to a variety of fauna and flora, including rare species such as the Viper peliade or the Machaon. The site has experienced heavy tourist traffic since the paid holidays of 1936, with amenities such as a hotel in 1936 and a camping in the 1970s. To limit vegetation erosion, a management plan was put in place in 2009, allowing for gradual recolonization by local species.
During the Second World War, the German army built a network of bunkers, remains of the Atlantic Wall, now used as shelters by protected bats. Geologically, the tip is located in the Armomeric Massif, with leucogranite outcrops dated 555 million years. This granite, injected along a fault, offers remarkable geological observations, such as shear structures and characteristic minerals.
The Grouin's tip is also a favorite spot for birds, with species such as the Pipit farlouse or the Pitchow. Naturalistic activities were organized between 1980 and 2007 to raise awareness among visitors. Today, the site combines ecological preservation and public reception, with measures to limit the tourist impact while valuing its natural and historical heritage.
