When you think of Morbihan, of the Carnac alignments, of its wild coast and of the islands of the Gulf of Morbihan. The Morbihan Guide will make you discover a fullness of wonders on this coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Coves, cliffs, maritime bays, unusual fine sand beaches, marinas, regional natural park, castles. So many enchanting landscapes that enchant the strolls of the inhabitants and the visitors. It is the perfect destination for vacations or family excursions. If you want to relax, think of the thalassotherapy centers of Morbihan, they will take care of you to bring all the benefits of the sea to your body. However, we must not forget the richness of its land and its past (of which there are many legends) that men have preserved at all times. The most popular places: Quiberon, the port of Crouesty, Billiers... Vannes, the ancient city of Morbihan, has preserved an incredible charm which makes the city travel through history. The citadel of Port-Louis, the ramparts of Hennebont or the Blocked Fort of Ploemeur... so many thousand-year-old architectures which draw a land rich of its ancestors and proud of its fights! The Keroman submarine base, today converted into a museum, remains the reflection of the military past of the city of Lorient. The Morbihan is the host of several cruises and campsites, its beauty is recognized by travelers who come to enjoy boating in the middle of nature, because there, it is the school of life. Maritime country par excellence, rich of more than 800 kilometers of coasts, rich of rivers, rich of canals and numerous plans of interior seas. Morbihan, king of tourism in Brittany, offers a wide range of nautical activities such as kayaking, based on a network of professionals and enthusiasts.

What to see, what to do Morbihan?

When to go Morbihan ?

When do we leave? With boots and oilskin, the Morbihan Greenways (964.3 km of cycle paths on 22 greenways) can be enjoyed all year round. From March (for the most courageous) to September, you can swim in the 148 bathing spots of this destination. In the summer, at low tide, you can put on your swimming shoes to tickle the crabs and shells. At high tide, you can swim in deliciously fresh water at a pleasant temperature. For the gourmets, you can enjoy seafood all year round: the "étrille", oysters, the bernique and the Breton mussel, but also the famous andouille from Guémené in Brittany!

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Il y a mille façons de découvrir le Morbihan le temps d’un court séjour, et c’est un territoire qui offre des activités et des plaisirs pour tous les âges et tous les goûts. Ce qui est certain, c’est que vous ne repartirez pas indifférent, et envisagerez bientôt une prochaine visite ! Alors pour vous permettre d’avoir un aperçu le plus complet possible des richesses du département, nous vous avons concocté deux séjours bien distincts, en guise de sources d’inspiration. Nous avons d’abord choisi de rassasier les férus de sports et d’aventures « outdoor » dans une première escapade. Ce séjour haut en couleur vous permettra d’explorer la nature verte du Morbihan intérieur avant de prendre un bol d’air marin vivifiant et tonique ! Vous pourrez aussi envisager notre circuit condensé de quatre jours pour partir à la découverte des contrastes étonnants de ce territoire en suivant ses origines des plus lointaines au plus récentes !

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Discover Morbihan

The Morbihan is a dreamy place because of the consonance of its Breton name, a promise of a preserved culture, of a certain change of scenery, of a fascinating discovery... And you will not be disappointed when you set foot on this small department nestled in the south of Brittany, rich of its countless islands and its infinite coasts, of its Celtic origins and of its universe of legends... You will go from surprise to surprise, and will certainly not solve all the enigmas you will encounter, such as those of the menhirs of Carnac. To make it easier for you to decipher, we give you a thematic overview of this exceptional territory: its history, its nature, its culture... and an overview of the tastes, sounds, smells, landscapes and emotions that will punctuate your stay! Would you rather go inland, along the Nantes-Brest canal, for example, or to Broceliande, or to the sea, with its beaches and hiking trails, and its beautiful villages?

Pictures and images Morbihan

Les alignements de Carnac. Richard VILLALON - Fotolia
Sentier sur l'Île-aux-Moines. Richard Villalon - stock.adobe.com
La plage de Damgan. Isabelle LEDOUX
Port Saint-Goustan. aterrom - stock.adobe.com

The 12 keywords Morbihan

1. # Wild dunes

On 35 kilometers, this arc of circle covered with wild dunes received the label Grand Site de France in 2018. This impressive dune area of preserved nature is the largest in the northern half of the country, and is extended to the east by the Côte Sauvage of the Quiberon peninsula and to the west by the granite peninsula of Gâvres.

2. # Fest-noz

Inherited from peasant gatherings, the Fest-noz ("night party") emerged in the 1950s to keep the custom alive. People dance in a circle or follow along to local music, played on traditional instruments such as the biniou or the bagpipes. In 2012, the Fest-noz is listed as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO.

3. # Godille

This term refers to a single oar installed at the back of a boat to ensure its speed and direction, but also to the navigation technique which depends on the sculler's propulsion force and his ability to follow a trajectory. Every summer, the Groix World Sculling Championship is an event not to be missed!

4. # Islands

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If the legend says that the Gulf of Morbihan has as many islands as the year of days, there are actually about forty within the 115 square meters of this small inland sea, Arz and the Ile-aux-Moines being the largest. There are also the very popular Belle-Île-en-Mer, Groix, Houat and Hœdic, off the coast of the department.

5. # Kenavo

It is the Breton "goodbye", chanted on street corners, with the hand raised! You can also hear some variations of this famous expression, such as "kenavo armiz all", literally "see you next month", "kenavo arwech all", a more common and natural "see you next time", or "kenavo emberr", for "see you soon", quite simply.

6. # Megalith

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From megas, "big" and lithos, "stone" in ancient Greek. Morbihan has more than 550 megalithic sites, the Carnac alignments being the most famous. Menhirs can be distinguished from dolmens (horizontal stones placed on verticals), cromlechs (in a circle), cairns (circular monument) or tumulus (eminence of earth and stones).

7. # Fishing

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This sector accounts for more than 4,000 direct jobs and 500 companies in the area, which is thesecond largest oyster farming department in France and Lorient is the third largest fishing port in France. At sea, we fish for sea bass, gilthead bream, pollack, mackerel, etc. In the rivers and lakes, we find Atlantic salmon, trout, pike, zander, perch, etc

8. # Beaches

In the plural, of course, as there are no less than 162 of them in the area! From the white sand of Groix Island to the golden cliffs of the Mine d'Or beach or the pebbles of Beg Lann, from the infinite expanses of the Landrezac, Kerver or Quiberon beaches to the charming coves of Houat Island, how many will you discover?

9. # Plate

Small fishermen's boat often built in the 1960s, and which was used a lot by oyster farmers. It allows access to all the corners of the Gulf, and to navigate even on a depth of ten centimeters of water. An essential part of the family heritage of the Gulf of Morbihan, today, the boat is mainly used for leisure.

10. # Ria

It is an important estuary, penetrated by the sea, often referred to as a "sea arm". The Ria d'Étel, or river for the locals, is known for its beauty by visitors, and for its dangerous sandy strip, creating formidable rollers, by sailors. Besides, in old French "ételle" meant "big wave".

11. # Saint-Cado

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It is a famous postcard that the image of this charming little house with blue shutters, alone on its islet of Nichtarguér (the "house of the oyster"). Built in 1894, it was the former residence of the oyster farm warden, located opposite the pretty village of Saint-Cado, also perched on an island linked to the mainland by a bridge.

12. # Yec'hed mat

When it's time to toast, you can't help it! As long as you know how to pronounce it correctly ("yé-red-mat", with a guttural "r"), this Breton "à la tienne" will ensure your complete integration for the rest of your stay! The expression literally means "good health", and is said with a glass of cider or chouchen in hand!

You are from here, if...

You still live here! You don't leave Morbihan, you settle there as soon as the time comes, maybe after some travels... Because yes, Bretons have a travelling soul, but when you are Morbihanese, what you prefer is still to go back home!

You generously use the hashtag #BZH, a trio of letters that you love, which expresses all your pride in living in Brittany, and even more, in the most beautiful and sunniest department of the region, no doubt!

You always have semi-salted butter in the fridge, available for a slice of bread on a fresh baguette in case of a snack, and you know how to incorporate it into the creamy caramel recipe handed down from generation to generation in your family!

You saved up as a teenager to buy your first... boat! As for your sea legs and sailing skills with all the associated jargon, these are simply innate qualities that will never fail you!

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