Cancale is a holiday location in the bay of Mont Saint Michel, approx. 10 km eastern of Saint Malo. Cancale is famous for its oyster farm. Here you find the best oysters of France.
Historical facts
Already the Romans supplied themselves with the excellent oysters of Cancale.
In the Middle Ages, ships loaded with oysters regularly left the port of Cancale in the direction of the Rouen. From there, the oysters came finally to Paris.
Already in the 13th century Etienne Boileau describes his “Livre of the Métiers” the exorbitant prices, which the ships had to pay as levy to the port of Rouen.
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More InformationKing Francis I of France was so enthusiastic about the oysters that he gave Cancale a city charter officially in 1545.
Also the court of Versailles appreciated the oysters from Cancale, and so it is not surprising that Louis XIII and Louis XIV confirmed the municipal law. Since the oysters could not be shipped at once, they were stored in a ship which was filled with seawater.
As of the 18th century, the oysters were conserved into vinegar. The delicate flavor loss did not prevent the court of Versailles to get oysters delivered several times a week.
The high demand led to unbridled exploitation of oyster beds. In order to prevent their destruction, the Admiralty arranged the first restrictions on August 16, 1766.
The export trade with the oysters was banned for the period from May to August. Still today one hears, that one shall not eat any oysters in months with “R”.
However, the restriction had little effect, so that the natural occurrence of Cancalese flat oyster was almost exhausted in the middle of the 19th century. So one started with the first attempts to cultivate rock oysters imported from Portugal and Japan with 1858.
Oyster farming today
The pacific rock oyster and the European oyster are cultivated on an area of 400 hectares. Approximately 6000 tons are harvested each year.
An oyster museum showcases the work on the oyster farms. Due to its reputation for its flat oysters and the quality of its environment, the Conseil National des Arts Culinaires appointed the town of Cancale a site remarquable du goût (remarkable place of taste) in 1994.
One can buy the fresh oysters directly at the port. On request, they are opened for immediate consumption
Climate
The oceanic climate shows only low temperature fluctuations between summer and winter and you have a high number of sunshine hours per year.The climate and the picturesque architecture makes Cancale a popular tourist destination.
Cancale oysters are very popular among the real oyster fans. Where else can you find excellent oysters at low prices even in high season.
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