Roscoff Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Roscoff

Rosko (Breton)

Center of Roscoff from Sainte Barbe chapel

Flag	Coat of arms

Roscoff

Location in France

Roscoff

Location in Brittany

Country

Morlaix

Saint-Pol-de-Léon

Haut-Léon Communauté

Area

6.19 km² (2.39 sq mi)

Population

(2021)

3,334

• Density

538.6/km² (1,395.0/sq mi)

Time zone

UTC+01:00 (CET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+02:00 (CEST)

INSEE/Postal code

29239 /29680

Elevation

0–58 m (0–190 ft)
(avg. 6 m or 20 ft)

¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Roscoff (which sounds like "Ross-koff") is a charming town in Finistère, a part of Brittany in northwestern France. It's known for its beautiful buildings and has been called a "small town of character" since 2009. Roscoff is also famous as the starting point for "Onion Johnnies". These are Breton farmers who traditionally traveled to England to sell onions.

Roscoff: A Busy Ferry Port
- Connecting France to the UK and Ireland
  - Ferry Routes from Roscoff
Thalassotherapy: Healing with the Sea
- The Birth of Thalassotherapy in Roscoff
  - Modern Thalassotherapy Centers
Exploring Roscoff: What to See
Île de Batz: A Nearby Island Adventure
Roscoff's History: Key Moments
Roscoff's International Connections
Images for kids
See also

Roscoff: A Busy Ferry Port

Roscoff became an important ferry port thanks to a local leader named Alexis Gourvennec. In 1968, he convinced the French government to build a deep-water port here. Since other ferry companies weren't interested in the long trip from Plymouth, England, to Roscoff, Alexis Gourvennec and his friends started their own company, Brittany Ferries.

Connecting France to the UK and Ireland

Since the early 1970s, Roscoff has grown into a major port. It helps transport farm products from Brittany and brings tourists who love to explore by car. Today, Brittany Ferries connects Roscoff with both Ireland and the United Kingdom.

A ferry departs Roscoff port, connecting France to other countries.

Ferry Routes from Roscoff

Brittany Ferries offers daily trips from Roscoff to Plymouth in the UK. These run from February to November, with some extra trips around Christmas. They also have two trips a week to Cork in Ireland. Another company, Irish Ferries, used to sail from Roscoff to Rosslare, but now they go to Cherbourg instead.

Preceding station		Ferry		Following station
		{{{route1}}}		Plymouth
		{{{route2}}}		Cork

Thalassotherapy: Healing with the Sea

Roscoff is also a special place for health and wellness. The waters around Roscoff are rich in iodine, and the sea current keeps the climate mild. The water temperature stays between 8 and 18 degrees Celsius. This makes Roscoff perfect for a type of treatment called thalassotherapy.

The Birth of Thalassotherapy in Roscoff

Thalassotherapy uses seawater, sea mud, and sea air for healing. The idea became popular in the late 1800s. In 1899, a French doctor named Louis-Eugène Bagot opened the Institut Marin in Roscoff. This was the very first thalassotherapy center in Europe!

Modern Thalassotherapy Centers

Today, you can find several important thalassotherapy centers by the sea in Roscoff. These include the Institut de Rockroum (which was originally the Institut Marin), the Kerléna clinic, and the Perharidy Centre, a hospital founded in 1900.

Exploring Roscoff: What to See

Roscoff has many interesting places to visit. From old churches to unique gardens, there's a lot to discover.

Our Lady of Croaz Batz Church: This beautiful church combines Renaissance and Gothic styles. It was built in the 16th century.
The "Mary, Queen of Scots" House: This house is famous because Mary, Queen of Scots is said to have stayed there.
The Station Biologique de Roscoff: This is a research lab that studies the ocean and marine life. It's a great place to learn about the sea.
The Jardin Exotique de Roscoff: This amazing garden is home to plants from all over the world. It's a surprising sight in Brittany!
The Onion Johnny Museum: Learn all about the history of the Onion Johnnies and their journeys.

Île de Batz: A Nearby Island Adventure

Just a short boat ride from Roscoff's harbour is a small island called Île de Batz. In Breton, it's known as Enez Vaz. You can easily reach it by launch and explore its quiet beauty.

Roscoff's History: Key Moments

Roscoff has a long and interesting past, with several important events shaping its story.

1375: English forces destroyed the harbor. It was later rebuilt in its current spot.
1522–1550: The Church of Our Lady of Kroas Batz was built during these years.
1548: A very important visitor arrived! Six-year-old Mary, Queen of Scots, landed in Roscoff on her way from Scotland. She was going to marry the French prince, François.
1790: Roscoff became its own independent town. Before this, it was part of Saint-Pol-de-Léon.
1919: The famous artist Henry Gerbault and his wife moved to Roscoff. They lived there for the rest of their lives.