Fancy an iodine getaway ? Head for the largest of the Breton islands : Belle-Île-en-Mer. Belle-Île-en-Mer is an absolutely magnificent protected natural area ideal for escape, hiking and sea excursions. It is divided into 4 communes : Le Palais, Sauzon, Bangor and Locmaria. With its remarkable fauna and flora as well as its wide open spaces, Belle-Île-en-Mer is the perfect destination for stays far from the hustle and bustle of big cities, in the calm of a preserved setting.
A vacation in Belle-Île-en-Mer is the promise of an adventure as much gustatory as visual and olfactory. With its postcard landscapes, Belle-Île-en-Mer definitely bears its name well and unrolls its charms to seduce lovers of sublime panoramas. With its eclectic and always changing landscapes, its views on the immensity of the ocean, its bucolic paths where it is good to stroll and its wild dunes, you will be surprised by the generous nature of Belle-Île. 17 kilometres long, this island is dotted with small charming ports and long beaches perfect for family getaways. Start your visit with an excursion to the city of the Palace : with its small port lined with colourful houses, its old streets, its panoramas from the Vauban citadel, its restaurants and its fortified enclosure, Le Palais has a very special atmosphere for which you will surely fall in love.
Then head to the western part of the island to discover the town of Sauzon : spread over more than 20 square kilometres, this picturesque marina on the Sauzon river is adored by lovers of calm and nature for its unique landscapes. The city is also famous for its "Donnant beach", one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. We come here to surf, swim as a family and sunbathe under the bellilois sun. At sunrise or sunset, go to the Pointe des Poulains to admire the lighthouse of the same name overlooking the sea and the colourful sky. In clear weather, you will be able to observe sublime points of view on the island of Groix and the Bay of Quiberon in particular: do not forget to carry with you your camera, the Pointe des Poulains is certainly one of the most beautiful sites of all Belle-Île-en-Mer.
Continue your discovery of Belle-Île-en-Mer through the town of Bangor : the largest town on the island, it is also the wildest of all. Worshipped by painters and photographers who come to immortalize its charms, its white houses and its valons, it is more popular for its rocky coasts that flow into the sea. The absolutely magnificent needles of Port-Coton were painted by Claude Monet who knew how to reveal their fascinating beauty.
The tourist city of Locmaria is the highest point of the island. Stroll through its maze of alleys to discover its many historic sites, from its church to its chapel, passing by its many fortifications in the image of the fortress of Kerdonis, a set of fortifications dating from the nineteenth century. Locmaria is also the ideal place to pack your bags if you like water sports such as surfing, sailing, bodyboarding or paddle : we advise you to go to the "Plage des Grands-Sables", "Port Maria" or "Pouldon" to practice your favourite water sports.
If there is a queen activity in Belle-Île-en-Mer, it is hiking. A land of contrasts, with over 100 kilometres of hiking trails and 40 kilometres for amateur cyclists, Belle-Île is a paradise for nature lovers. On foot or by mountain bike on the marked trails, there will be something for all tastes and all levels. Through the wooded countryside of the Stang Per valley, the beaches of Kerel and Herlin, the natural harbours and deep coves, via the signposted routes and steep paths, prepare your calves (and your sun cream !) as the relief of the island is very varied. On the Locmaria side, the Pointe de Kerdonis is ideal for walking : from here you can admire the city's many fortifications and breathtaking ocean views. Go to the rocks of the Apothicairerie cave (to the south), to the big lighthouse of Goulphar, then take the coastal path of the GR 34 which runs along the whole coast for breathtaking panoramas on the ocean, the cliffs cut out, the secret creeks and the wild moors. Another perfect way to enjoy the beauty of Belle-Île-en-Mer : opt for sea kayaking trips. Thus, in a few strokes of the paddle, you will discover the hidden caves and inaccessible coves that dot the coastline of the island.
Lovers of long rest sessions on the fine sand will be able to enjoy the 58 or so wonderful beaches and coves that dot the bellilois coastline. Bordering immense dunes or at the foot of cliffs, you will have only the embarrassment of the choice : from the "beach of Bordardoué" to the "crique de Gros Rocher" and the "beach of Port-Fouquet" to the Palace, to that of "Baluden" in Bangor and that of "Port Puce" in Sauzon, you will discover each time landscapes of astonishing fine sand, different and paradisiacal. Finally, in terms of nautical activities, if surfing and sailing are kings, we also advise you to try scuba diving to discover all the richness of the island's seabed.
