Plage de Donnant, Sandy beach in Sauzon, France

Plage de Donnant is a sandy beach on Belle-Île island off the coast of Brittany, split into two sections separated by rock formations. The fine sand curves along the shoreline with cliffs and precambrian schist rocks forming natural boundaries on either side.

Plage de Donnant lies on Belle-Île, the Breton island administered from Sauzon, which was fortified in the 19th century: the citadel of Palais and the ramparts of Sauzon were built under the July Monarchy and the Second Empire. The beach itself has no fortifications; its history is that of a sandy cove on an island whose defence relied on those masonry works.

The beach lies in the commune of Sauzon on Belle-Île, the Breton island where Sarah Bernhardt bought the fort of Lizet in 1894 and kept a house until her death in 1923. The island's name comes from the Breton Enez ar Gerveur, and the coast around Sauzon was long worked by fishermen and pilots before tourism.

Plage de Donnant lies on the south coast of Belle-Île, in the commune of Sauzon, about 500 km west of Paris. The bay is open to Atlantic swell, so the water is often rough; swimmers should stay within the marked zone and follow the flags and notices posted at the beach entrance.

The beach attracts surfers who appreciate the strong waves that provide consistent conditions throughout the year. These waves result from the bay's exposed position and make it an active hub for the local surfing community.