Morbihan and south Brittany
The Morbihan is a region in the south of Brittany which takes it's name from the "Gulf of Morbihan". It is a small inland sea containing over 40 islands. It is an important migrating site for sea and shore birds.
The huge number of menhirs and dolmen in this part of Brittany makes the region one of the most impressive megalithic sites in the world – said to more than match Stonehenge.
Several inland villages and coastal towns and the general southern exposure of the area makes it a top tourist destination in France.
Gulf of Morbihan
Exploring the gulf – there are several ways of seeing the gulf. The simplest is to take a Vedettes Navix motorboat from Auray, Vannes, Locmariaquer or Port-Navalo (02 97 46 60 00). These boats sail around the gulf and will stop at either the Ile d’Arz or the Ile aux Moines. Alternatively, you can hire a private motorboat
or a sailing dinghy (beware of the oyster-beds and the currents!) or hire a yacht with its own skipper. The ultimate experience is to fly over the gulf in a light aircraft (Aero club de Vannes-Meucon- 02 97 60 73 08).
Isle aux Moines and Isle d’Arz – the two largest islands in the gulf are very different from each other. The Isle aux Moines contains pretty villas and is covered with sub-tropical vegetation – camellias, mimosas, orange trees – and woodlands with poetic sounding names, while the Isle d’Arz seems barren and unwelcoming at first
sight. Both islands have fishing villages with quaint cottages and lanes, several megaliths and pleasant beaches from which to paddle or swim.
Rhuys Peninsula
The Rhuys peninsula, which encloses the gulf of Morbihan to the south, has two very different characters. On one side there are marshes and bays populated by the flora and fauna that are typical of the gulf, and on the other there are the wave-lashed cliffs and sandy beaches, which benefit from their southern exposure.
There are 50 miles of signposted paths around the peninsula, which leave hikers and ramblers with almost too many routes to choose from. The gulf side is the best way of getting to see the thousands of migratory birds that spend the winter in the marshes. The ocean side leads to the beaches and the chateaux of Kerlevenan (XVIII century) and
Sucinio (XIII century). Maps and information are available from the tours office, Place des Trinitaires, Sarzeau (02 97 41 83 37).
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