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Lovely Belle Ile – or Belle Ile en Mer to give it its full title – carries its name well. Set 14 km off the coast of mainland Brittany, the “beautiful island in the sea” is an undiscovered marvel. Tourists are few and far on Belle Ile. And with reason – it’s impossible to get to except by ship and even then it is pretty tortuous: the island is a six-hour car ride from Paris to the tiny port town of Quiberon, and is then followed by a 30-minute ferry ride. But it is well worth it. Pretty white fishermen’s cottages welcome you, rocky creeks with waters worthy of the Caribbean (although not the same temperature) beckon you and sailing boats rock gently in their moorings. Le Palais, the island’s main town, boasts a 16th-century citadel standing guard near the harbour. Monet painted the village of Sauzon in 1886 and Sarah Bernhart once owned a home on the island. The island’s rich history dates back as far as 6,000 BC, when it was separated from mainland France. Over the years Belle Ile has fallen prey to many invasions, primary due to inadequate defences. That all changed when Louis XIV commissioned Vauban to fortify the island and entrusted its management to the States of Brittany. After a short occupation of the island by the English (1761-1763), the island’s land was divided up among all of its inhabitants. The French Revolution would further change things, and once Belle Ile was released from the king’s domaine, the island prospered with the development of agriculture, fishing, and ship building.
tour 1 Belle Île Oyster Tasting
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From Le Palais, Belle Ile's petite capital, take a scenic tour by coach to discover the key sights of the island. Pass by Sauzon, the picturesque harbor over the entrance of a deep estuary, known for its colorful facades. Join the spectacular wild coast of Port Coton to admire its needles, pyramids of rocks worm shaped by the ocean where foam may fly like cotton balls on stormy days. Then get acquainted with Breton gastronomy as you sample oysters with a glass of white wine at the famous Castel Clara restaurant. Relax and dine in the fresh sea air of Port Goulphar, one of the most delightful rocky coves of the island, where presidents, actors, actress and singers like to enjoy the view over the wild ocean. On the way back, see the Grand Phare (lighthouse) from the coach and pass Kervilahouen, a peaceful inland village where the impressionist painter Claude Monet once lived and painted. Once you have reached back Le Palais, walk back to the pier.
tour 2 Panoramic Belle Île
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Gain a new appreciation for the small isles of the region on this tour filled with natural beauty regularly sought out by artists for generations. After a short walk from the pier to the coaches, leave Le Palais and drive to Port Coton. En route see the Grand Phare from the coach: the island's tallest lighthouse. Visit the original Port Coton needles, pyramids of rocks worn and shaped by the ocean where foam floats on the air like cotton balls on stormy days. Continue to the Pointe des Poulains, the Northern island cap, loved by the artist Sarah Bernhardt. Pass by Kervilahouen, a peaceful inland village where the Impressionist Claude Monet spent some time, painting the same stretch of wild coast 36 times in all weather. Then reach Sauzon, picturesque harbor over the entrance of a deep estuary, known for its colorful facades. Enjoy this scenic destination with a stop to take in the view, take photos and relax. Drive back to Le Palais and return to the pier.
tour 3 Walking Le Palais & Citadel
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Explore the history and charm of Brittany on this fascinating tour. Walk through the charming Port of Le Palais to the Citadelle Vauban, passing the gate (Porte du Bourg) and following the great Moat (Grand Fossé) carved in rocks to the Keep gate. Referred to as the "Battleship of the Atlantic," this massive fortification from the late 17th century is considered the perfect expression of classical military architecture, offering an excursion through the past. On a guided tour learn of Fouquet or the Cardinal of Retz, Louis XIV and the "poison affaire", the Chouans and Cadoudal and many more characters that made the story of this sentinel of the sea, today museum and hotel, overlooking the harbor. Discover actual soldiers' quarters, prison cells, gunpowder storage, and kitchens. Enjoy the panoramic view from the Governor's Bastion and its gardens, looking over Le Palais port and the little town, seeing even the coastline and far away Islands of Houat and Hoedic. After the visit of the Citadelle, return to the pier via the colorful main street of Le Palais.
tour 4 Port Coton & Garden of La Boulaye
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Discover the best that Brittany has to offer on this tour of Port Coton and the Jardin la Boulaye. Walk 15 minutes from the pier to your coach for a driving tour of Belle Ile's wild coast. Stop to get a better view (and some photographs) of Port Coton's needles, which are impressive, serpentine pyramids of rocks worn and shaped by the ocean where foam may fly like cotton balls on stormy days.
Then re-board your coach to reach the exquisite Jardin La Boulaye. Born in a valley of the wild coast of Belle-Ile-en-Mer, this garden offers a walk in a wild setting that has been tamed with great care towards highlighting its natural beauty. Valley hydrangeas, sculptures, ponds and waterfalls, ancient wash house, old stone walls, a labyrinth of stairs and gorse rockroses punctuate the lovely presence of blackthorn and roses. Veronique, the owner of the garden, can guide you, narrating as you discover her garden and the fantastic design layout she and her husband dreamed about and then executed. After your visit, drive back to Le Palais and walk back to pier.
tour 5 Hiking Pointe Des Poulains & Breton Snack
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Hike the wild coast of Belle Île on this exciting and active excursion to La Pointe de Poulains. Walk from the pier to your transport in Palais and drive to Sauzon (30 minutes). At the Pointe des Poulains is the Northern island cap, where artist Sarah Bernhardt established her Summer residence in a 19th century fort, and where artists have come for ages to depict the wild and rocky coast. Begin your 2-hour hike of the wild coast, reaching La Pointe des Poulains, a breathtaking viewing point of view on the rugged coast of Belle Île. Follow your guide and enjoy a hike along the wild coast, appreciating the dramatic coves and the turquoise water. Your hike ends in a small "hameau" or village at the Logonet Mill (Moulin de Logonet), where you can enjoy a refreshment stop before re-boarding the coach to drive back to the pier.