Belle Île, Island in Brittany, France
Description
Belle Île is an island off the coast of Brittany measuring about 17 kilometers long and 9 kilometers wide, shaped by steep cliffs on the southwest side and gentle sandy beaches on the northeast. Four small towns spread across the island, with Le Palais serving as the main settlement with a fortified citadel and Sauzon offering a sheltered harbor for boats.
History
The territory served as a stronghold for the Veneti tribe during Roman times and passed temporarily into British hands after an 18th-century war before returning to France in 1763. Fortifications were expanded during the 16th and 17th centuries to secure the strategic position off the Breton coast.
Culture
The name means beautiful island and describes a landscape marked by lighthouses, fishing harbors, and white houses along the coast. Fishermen and sailors share the sheltered bays while hikers follow marked paths that lead past small chapels and roadside crosses.
Practical
Ferries depart regularly from several ports in Brittany and arrive at Le Palais or Sauzon depending on weather and season. Walking trails follow the coastline and cross the interior, with sturdy footwear recommended due to rocky sections in some areas.
Did you know?
French painter Claude Monet visited the island in the late 19th century and produced several paintings capturing the rock formations and changing light over the sea. His work helped bring the coastal landscape to wider attention beyond France.
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The French coastline stretches over more than 3,100 miles and features a notable variety of beaches. From Brittany's granite coasts to Mediterranean coves, including wide Atlantic stretches and Corsican bays with clear waters, each coastal area has its own character. This selection takes you away...
Citadelle Vauban du Palais
3 km
Aiguilles de Port-Coton
5 km
Goulphar lighthouse
3.9 km
Pointe des Poulains
7.3 km
Poulains lighthouse
7.9 km
Grotte de l'Apothicairerie
6.5 km
Fort Sarah Bernhardt
7.5 km
Menhirs Jean et Jeanne
2.8 km
Sentier de grande randonnée 340
2.9 km
Kerdonis lighthouse
10 km
Aiguade Vauban
3.4 km
Église Saint-Gérand du Palais
2.8 km
Manoir de Crawford
4 km
Phare de Sauzon
5 km
Fortin de Port Maria
9.3 km
Ramparts of Le Palais
2.8 km
Ancienne station radar de Port-Coton
5.1 km
Fortin de Kerdonis
10.2 km
Fort du Bugull
5.6 km
Fortin de Port-Fouquet
3.2 km
Église Notre-Dame de l'Assomption de Locmaria
9.1 km
Ensemble fortifié de La Ferrière
6.4 km
Pierre Sainte Anne
3.1 km
Réduit de La Biche
7.6 km
Plage de Ramonette
3.1 km
Plage de Donnant
3.7 km
Église de Bangor, Morbihan
2 km
Plage d'Herlin
3.8 kmDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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