Among the 42 islands in the Gulf of Morbihan, the largest, Ile aux Moines, is distinctive due to its trees, mild climate and smart ecological lifestyle. Its wilder neighbour, Ile d’Arz, is great for walkers with its wonderful coastal path.
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Discover Ile aux Moines
Connected to the mainland all year by a shuttle from Port-Blanc, 15 km from Vannes, the island owes its name (Monks’ Island) to the monks of Redon abbey, to whom the king of Brittany gifted the island in the 9th century. Stretching over 6 km from Pointe du Trech in the north to Pointe du Nioul in the south, it has the shape of a cross. Camellias, mimosas, palm trees and orange trees grow in profusion. Come and stroll around the old village with floral streets and charming fishermen’s houses out of season. The island can be explored on foot or by bike, which can be hired at the jetty. It’s the ideal way to explore Bois d’Amour, the gorse-covered hills, the large beach, the small bays and the megaliths of the “pearl of the Gulf”.
Off the coast of Larmor-Baden, the cairn of Gavrinis features fascinating carvings. The weight of the stones of this neolithic structure exceeds 18,000 tonnes. A colossal task.
The crossing from Pointe de Conleau to this wild strip of land takes 20 minutes. Relatively flat and full of charm thanks to its varied landscapes, its village and its old manor houses, Arz Island is a walkers’ paradise. The coastal path goes all the way around the island and offers superb views of the gulf. At Pointe du Berno, the tide mill, built in the 16th century and brought back to life by enthusiastic volunteers, is now in working order. At the heart of the village, the Musée Marins et Capitaines will teach you about in a time when nearly every man on the island went to sea, recruited in the merchant navy or the Royal Navy.
