At the northern edge of the roadstead of Brest, this cape of steep, windswept cliffs faces the Iroise Sea from a height of nearly 20 metres. Opposite is Béniguet island. Nearby are the village of Plougonvelin and the port of Le Conquet, which gives access to the islands of Molène and Ouessant.
An abbey, built from the 11th century onwards, now lies in ruins there. A lighthouse watches over it, a Historic Monument that offers a stunning view once you have climbed its 163 steps! Of the abbey, you can still admire the Romanesque façade, the arcades of the nave and the vaults of the choir. A small museum, based in the Chapel of Our Lady of Grace, contains some remains of it.
The National Memorial to sailors who gave their lives for France also stands there, erected in 1927.
Saint-Mathieu headland is an ideal place for a hike, along the route of the famous customs officers' path, the GR 34.
