Stone : red sandstone
Type : sedimentary rock
Age : 480 million years
Quarry : Barrier / Routin, Fréhel (Côtes d’Armor) (not active)

Paving Stones in the Sea

At the beginning of the 20th century, the quarry specialized in the production of paving stones and employed more than 280 workers. The most skilled among them could cut up to 100 paving stones per day, which were then shipped by boat to cities in northwestern France, including Paris. Cyclists in the “Paris-Roubaix” race still tremble on the pink paving stones of Fréhel as they ride the challenging 2.3 kilometers of the “Trouée d’Arenberg.”
After the war, the quarry ceased paving stone production and shifted its activity to gravel.

A Reshaped Coastline

The Routin quarries in Fréhel were the largest coastal quarries in France. Comparing aerial photographs from 2020 and 1950 reveals a completely redesigned coastline. The quarry was equipped with a loading dock to export materials to their destinations. It’s worth noting that maritime transport consumes less energy than land transport.

With the Changing Seasons

Fréhel sandstone is composed of billions of grains of quartz and feldspars tightly cemented together. Its pink color comes from the presence of iron oxides. The layers represent accumulations of sand deposited in a warm climate with alternating dry and wet seasons. The thickness of the deposits reflects intense erosion of ancient landscapes.

A Leisure Park Project

The quarry, opened in 1886, is now inactive. Extraction activities have ended. But the uniqueness of the site has inspired a group of enthusiasts. A “nature-culture-adventure” park project is currently under consideration. The natural site of Cap Fréhel, designated a “Grand Site of France” in 2019, welcomes a million visitors each year.