Morbihan

Here are Morbihan’s star towns, all absolutely worth a visit:

Vannes: a little medieval town with half-timbered houses, ramparts and marina… a cultural heritage to please everyone!

Auray: the little port of Saint-Goustan, cobbled streets, half-timbered houses and bustling quays…an enchanting town steeped in history!

Lorient: the town with 6 ports that combines open sea, art of living and culture.

Quiberon: wild coast, cliffs and breathtaking panoramic views… this seaside resort captivates visitors due to its fine sandy beaches and sea-salty hiking trails alike.

Josselin: a Petite Cité de Caractère® [Small Town of Character] crossed by the Oust and overlooked by its castle – a medieval, “water’s-edge” setting you’ll never get tired of!

La Gacilly: Flower-filled alleyways, dedicated craftspeople and local knowhow bring this pretty little town to life. And every summer, its Photo Festival turns it into real open-air gallery!

La Faouët: rolling landscapes, gothic chapels and old covered markets… a distillation of history and charm nestling in the heart of Morbihan.

Saint-Cado: dunes, wild beaches, oyster farms, peninsulas, marshes and, above all, a mysterious islet with its little, blue-shuttered house on the Ria d’Etel, provide visitors with a picture postcard of rare beauty.

Pont-Scorff: between nature and knowhow, this Petite Cité de Caractère®, also labelled Ville et Métiers d’Art [Arts and Crafts Town], never fails to enchant visitors with its little streets, wooded riverbanks and dedicated craftspeople’s workshops.

Guémené-sur-Scorff: a little medieval town on the banks of the Scorff River, with no lack of manor houses, chapels and fountains…not forgetting its famous andouille sausages, the region’s gourmet pride!

Rochefort-en-Terre: a Petite Cité de Caractère® bustling all year round, with its castle, cobbled streets alive with colourful flowers and craftspeople’s galleries and workshops.

Feel like spreading your towel on golden sand or diving into turquoise water? Here are a few of Morbihan’s beaches not to be missed out on:

Kerouriec Beach in Erdeven: a vast expanse of sand bordered by dunes, it’s a boardsports enthusiasts’ paradise! And its rocky headlands also make it ideal for introducing your kids to crab fishing!

Falaise Beach in Guidel: an essential surf spot bordered by dunes sculpted by the sea in a spectacular wild setting!

Mine D’Or Beach in Pénestin: famous for its ochre-hued cliffs overlooking the sea.

The Great beach of Carnac: white sand, striped beach huts and seaside ambience just a step away from the town centre, ideal for a stroll along the esplanade.

Donnant Beach on Belle-Île-en-Mer features a wild cove bordered by spectacular cliffs and translucent waters. It’s also a very popular surf spot!

Grands Sables Beach on Groix, a rare convex beach whose shape is as fascinating as the clarity of its waters: a natural gem open to the skies above.

Pénestin: a seaside resort with a dozen or more beaches, along with coves and breathtaking ochre cliffs.

La Roche-Bernard: overlooking the Vilaine River, this Petite Cité de Caractère® combines steep alleyways, old port, sailors’ houses and stunning views.

Sarzeau: Suscinio Castle surrounded by marshland, quiet little ports, beaches and oyster farms… here, you go from one setting to the next!

Carnac: what with its alignments of megaliths, salt marshes, fine sandy beaches and maritime pines, the resort combines heritage, nature and fresh Breton air.

Port-Louis: between fishing port and citadel, a great mixture of salty sea air and history.

Belle-île: white sand beaches, spectacular cliffs, coves of turquoise waters, little port and lush green countryside… as you’ll see, the island really lives up to its name!

Houat and Hoëdic: two enchanting, unspoilt little islands with sandy trails, cliffs sculpted by the sea, paradisiacal coves and lively little ports.

Isle aux Moines and Isle of Arz: the larger of the two, the Isle aux Moines, captivates visitors with its wooded paths and eco-chic spirit. Its neighbour, the Isle of Arz, possesses a wilder charm, much appreciated by hikers in search of tranquillity and viewpoints over the Gulf.

Groix: wild coasts, trails bordered with gorse and heather, coves of crystal-clear water and Grands-Sables convex beach, not forgetting the hypnotic Trou de l’Enfer [Hell’s Hole]… as you’ll see, the island has a character all its own!

The famous Carnac Alignments are obviously a must-see! But they’re not all Morbihan has to offer: you can also make your way to the Gavrinis cairn, the menhirs in Erdeven and the Locmariaquer megaliths. And did you know? There are more than 550 megalithic sites across the south of Morbihan, all inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List! One more reason to set off in discovery of these stone giants… definitely not to be missed out on!

Morbihan can be enjoyed all year round of course, but we advise you to visit it off-season! In spring and autumn alike, you can make the utmost of the islands, wander through the medieval alleyways or along the coastal trails, and take in the peace and quiet of the Gulf. Even in winter, the mild climate is an invitation to walks in the salty sea air.

Here are a few of Morbihan’s top hiking itineraries:

• Leaving from Vannes, make your way to the Quiberon peninsula by way of Belle-Île-en-Mer: an itinerary that takes in ocean, nature and watersports.
• You can also vary the landscapes in Pays de Lorient by following the trail from Guidel to Port-Louis via the Gâvres peninsula.
• Running through the heart of Morbihan, the GRP® Vannes-Lanvaux (regional loop trail) takes you across wild landscapes including moors, hills, grasslands and woods.

Need to plot your next getaway and identify the spots not to be missed out on? You’ll find downloadable tourist maps and guides on Morbihan’s official website.