Spered Breizh Ouessants: 02/25/08

Welcome to the home of Spered Breizh Ouessants. The breed originates from the island of Ouessant, part of a tiny archipelago just off the north coast of Finistere, Brittany. The island of terror as it was known to some, was swept by the full force of the atlantic’s weather, the hardy sheep adapted to survive on poor grazing from salty clifftop meadows. It was the women of the island that raised the sheep, renowned for their black wool to weave into cloth known locally as berlinge and their meat with its sweet and delicate taste.

Bienvenue chez Spered Breizh Ouessants. La race est originaire de l’île d’’Ouessant qui fait parti d’un petit archipel au large du Finistère, Bretagne. L’île de l'épouvante comme c'était connu par certains était balayé par les intempéries de l’atlantique, ces moutons rustiques s'adaptaient à survivre sur les pâturages pauvres des falaises salées. C’était les femmes de l’île qui élevaient les moutons réputés pour leur laine noire à tisser « la berlinge » une étoffe régionale et leur viande avec un goût doux et délicat.

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lundi 25 février 2008

Ouessant L'ile de L'Epouvante - The Island of Terror

Photo courtesy Ushant Island
This tiny island has struck fear into many sailors hearts over the centuries, even today it is encircled by lighthouses. The Creac'h lighthouse has a range of over 36 miles, certainly the most powerful in europe and is often quoted as reputedly the worlds strongest lighthouse. It is no accident, this island is known for wrecking ships and the raging storms that race across the atlantic are only slowed when they reach the island of Ouessant. The sharp rocky granite cliffs and promentaries of the island continue unseen under the sea to catch the unwary or foolhardy sailor who ventures too close. Winds are regularly recorded of up to 130 km/h and many a ship has foundered on its shores helplessly blown off course in violent seas. The islanders of Ouessant are undoubtedly hardy people and have often profited in the past from bounty strewn across the beaches after a wreck. A race of mariners whose understanding and affinity with the sea pervades their whole lives and being. In modern times this relationship continues, in 1988 the seas around Ouessant were declared by UNESCO part of a biosphere reserve such is the uniqueness of its marine ecology. In 2007 France declared the the seas around the archipelago, its first national marine park Parc Naturel Marin D'Iroise affording the area a greater degree of protection and in recognition of the rich diversity of plant and marine life. Administrated by the Parc Naturel Regional D'Armorique . Ouessant was established as part of France's second national park in 1969 There is no doubt the island of Ouessant is a veritable jewel in the crown of such an exceptional region.

The diving off the seas of the island is well known and a must for many. So it seems that this desolate, rugged and bleak island has a richness and diversity of flora and fauna that can only come with its isolation and exposed location and what was a source of terrible hardship for the islanders has become a positive asset. Today tourism and in particular eco-tourism is a vibrant and vital part of island life.