The city of Ys: a Breton legend
An ancient forest, a chapel guarding the gates of Hell, a white boar, a magical sword… Between Celtic beliefs, Neolithic heritage and Christian fervour, Brittany is a land steeped in legends, where stories inspired by real events blend with myth and imagination. The city of Ys, a mysterious submerged city, is one of these mythical places that give Brittany — and especially Finistère — its unique charm.
The legend of the city of Ys
A kind of Breton Atlantis, the legend of Ys is certainly one of the most famous.
It tells how Gradlon, king of Cornouaille, built a magnificent city for his daughter Dahut, named Ys (or Ker-Ys). Located below sea level, the city was protected by a powerful seawall. Only the king controlled the opening and closing of the sluice gates, allowing fishermen to leave the city. The key was always tied around his neck, safe from theft.
Life in this perfectly protected city soon became dull for Dahut. She blamed her boredom on Saint Corentin, the bishop of Cornouaille. Dreaming of celebration, luxury and pleasure, she transformed Ys into a city of indulgence.
Each evening, Dahut summoned handsome young men, whom she insisted should wear masks. At dawn, those masks became deadly traps: the young men were thrown from a cliff into the sea.
Aware of this excess, Bishop Corentin and Saint Guénolé, a close ally of the king, warned her repeatedly — in vain.
One evening, a prince dressed in red — believed to be the devil himself, sent to punish the sinful city — appeared before Dahut, who fell deeply in love with him. At his urging, she stole the key from her father’s neck, and the prince opened the floodgates.
Within minutes, the city was swallowed by the sea. The king escaped on horseback with the help of Saint Guénolé, but was forced to abandon his daughter to the waves.
Dahut is said to have become a mermaid ever since — a sea maiden whose golden hair can still be seen shimmering in the midday sun.
Where is the city of Ys located?
The exact location of the legendary city remains a mystery.
Some believe it lies near Pointe du Raz, in the Bay of Douarnenez, in the Bay of Audierne, or even off the coast of Penmarc’h.
Others claim it could be at Yaudet, in Ploulec’h (Côtes-d’Armor). The presence of an ancient oppidum, a major archaeological site and a Roman road linking Yaudet to Pestin are considered possible clues.
The legend of the city of Ys has never been fixed in a single version. It has evolved — and continues to evolve — with imagination, making it a living and ever-changing story.