This extremely underrated French island has darling coastal villages, pristine beaches, and fresh seafood
When you imagine traveling to France, islands probably don’t come to mind. But there are several picturesque islands located off the west coast of France, including the rocky island of Mont St. Michele and the Île de Ré, known for its seafood and surfing. One of the most picturesque islands is the appropriately named Belle-en-en-Mer, which translates to “Beautiful Island on the Sea.” It is often simply called Belle-île.
Located in the Brittany region of northwest France, Belle-île is known for its picturesque beaches and stunning scenery. It is the largest of the Breton Islands, a group of more than 800 small islands in Brittany. The charming coastal villages of Palais, Sauzon, Bangor and Locmaria feature colorful buildings, seaside restaurants, quaint shops and fishing boats, used to catch the delicious local seafood. While many travelers like to see Belle-île on a day trip from Quiberon, others prefer to spend a few days or a week on the island – or even longer. Belle-Île is home to many guesthouses rented overnight, as well as short-term house or apartment rentals typically rented out within the week. There are 13 hotels on the island, including the luxurious Castel Clara in Bangor, the family-friendly La Désirade in Bangor, the panoramic Hôtel Le Cardinal with ocean views in Sauzon and the Grand Hotel de Bretagne, the island’s oldest hotel, at the Palais.
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What to do in Belle-île
An aerial view of Les Aguilles Rocks in Belle-Ile – Wirestock/Getty Images
Whether you prefer leisurely time outdoors or intense athletic feats, Belle-île has plenty to offer when it comes to hiking, biking, swimming, boating, and even surfing. The island is full of picturesque harbors, rocky landscapes, cliffs, caves and beaches, with numerous walking, hiking and cycling trails. Among the area’s many beaches, the standout is Les Grands Sables or the Great Sands, a white sand beach in a sheltered bay that is a popular area for swimming, sunbathing, kayaking and sailing. The Aiguilles de Port Coton, or the Needles of Port de Coton (pictured above), are a set of jagged rocks painted by Claude Monet that are now a popular tourist site with stunning views at sunset. The name comes from the needle-like shapes of the rocks and the cotton moss that the waves leave on windy days. Nearby is the Grand Phare, a 52 meter high lighthouse built in 1856, which is one of Belle-île’s most recognizable landmarks. Tourists can climb the 247 steps to the top! Hikers can take the Aiguilles from Port Coton to Grand Phare. The famous long-distance GR®340 hiking trail circles Belle-île-en-Mer and typically takes four days to hike.
There is also significant artistic history on the island. The natural landscape of Belle-île was painted by several impressionist painters, including Claude Monet, Henri Matisse and John Peter Russell, and the famous French actress of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Sarah Bernhardt, spent her summers on Belle-île. She lived in a small fort named La Pointe des Poulains and later built or acquired several other buildings to house her entourage. Her legacy is now celebrated in a museum called L’Espace Muségraphique Sarah Bernhardt.
What to eat and drink in Belle-île
Belle-ile sheep graze in a field – Wikimedia Commons / Jibi44
Belle-île is known for its fresh seafood, particularly barnacles, a crustacean related to crabs, shrimp and lobster. The area is known for its diverse fishing, with bass, pollack, conger eel, gilthead bream, oldsquaw, mackerel, mullet, flatfish and oysters in nearby waters. Local and selfish seafood can be found at the island’s fish markets, so you can take a fresh catch home to cook with. Another Belle-île delicacy is black bee honey, with a unique taste that comes from the island’s wild plants. A local species of sheep called the ovin-belle-île breed or breed of two means that lamb meat and sheep’s milk cheese are also common. Popular restaurants include Le Suet, with a seasonal, seafood-filled menu; Creperie La Mère Michèle; and Le Grain de Sel, with seaside views. Foodies can also stop at a local dairy called La Fromagerie Pilou, visit the Kailis Distillery to sample the raw whiskey locally, take a beekeeping tour at Rucher de l’Abeille Noire, or indulge in local desserts at the artisanal Cookie Factory Laen Nommée.
To reach Belle-île, you will first need to go to Quiberon, the seaside port from where the ferry to Belle-île departs. If you are traveling from outside France, the nearest international airports are Nantes Atlantique Airport or Rennes Bretagne Airport, around 2 hours’ drive, while Paris is around 6 hours’ drive from Quiberon. Whether you are traveling from Nantes, Paris or even London, you can reach Quiberon via a bus, train or car. From there you can take the ferry to Belle-île – with or without a car. Belle-île is particularly popular in summer, but open to visitors all year round. From food to nature to cultural history, Belle-île is truly an underrated gem when it comes to traveling in France. Explore the Brittany region? Don’t miss the “impeccably preserved” medieval town that Rick Steves calls a must-see.
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Read the original article about the islands.
