6 days to discover Port-Navalo and its surroundings ⛵

Being in exam period, we were entitled to a week of revisions. Seizing this unexpected chance, two of us went to Brittany, in the Gulf of Morbihan. This trip was not at all planned and I was so eager to discover this french region that I know very little.

Stone houses of flowered granites, paradisiacal beaches, coastal paths, magnificent sunsets, salt marshes, mackerel fishing, salt mills, boat tours, tasting of fresh products, friendly markets: this is what we are going to do during our stay in Brittany. I let you discover the rest of the article!

> Day 1: The village of Port-Navalo

We took the train from Paris to Vannes, then the car for 45 minutes, taking a road in the footsteps of the old railway line, which allows us to get as close as possible to the shores of the Gulf Sea, before 'get to Port-Navalo.

The village of Port-Navalo is a sub-municipality of Arzon, which brings together different villages, in the Gulf of Morbihan. Port-Navalo is located on the Rhuys Peninsula. It is also a former 20th century coastal fishing port. At the tip of the Peninsula, the village is at the junction between the Gulf of Morbihan and the Bay of Quiberon. Thus, to the South of Port-Navalo, the beaches overlook the waters of the Bay of Quiberon and those to the North on the interior of the Gulf of Morbihan.

On the first day of our arrival, we took the time to walk the streets of the village. The Notre-Dame-de-l 'Assomption Church is located in the heart of Arzon, where there are many shops. The rest of the village is very charming with its granite stone houses and narrow streets. As I walked around, I had the impression that the inhabitants of Port-Navalo attach great importance to their houses and it made me happy to see colorful flowers on almost all the houses. It brings so much cachet and cheerfulness. A very beautiful flowered village which is worth the detour!

> Day 2: the Lighthouse Path and the Fogeo Beach

The Chemin du Phare is a beautiful walk which offers exceptional panoramas on the ocean. Starting from the Port-Navalo Lighthouse, the coastal path runs along the coast. The path is bordered by pretty beaches such as Port-Navalo Beach and Port-Sable Beach. Moreover, there are many viewpoints that allow you to take a break and observe the expanse of the sea.

As a monument, the Tomb of the Little Moss is interesting to see and is accessible from the trail. For the little anecdote, in this tomb lies a corpse of an unrecognizable young sailor, nicknamed "The Little Moss". Victor Hugo himself wrote a poem for this young stranger that can be read on the grave. In short, the walk is very easy and remains accessible to all.

After a good half hour of walking, we reached Fogeo Beach, a sublime beach. The path leads to the beach which stretches for several kilometers. This beach is truly magnificent with its fine white sand, rocky pebbles and crystal clear turquoise water. This strip of sand never seems to stop and we take full eyes!

> Day 3: the Petit Mont Trail and the Port of Crouesty

For our third day in Port-Navalo, we allowed ourselves a shopping session at the Port of Crouesty. Coming by bike, we were able to park them in dedicated spaces. Hundreds of boats are moored in the port, making it the largest marina in Brittany since 1973. Fishermen and individuals come to stop there before entering the Gulf of Morbihan. It is also a friendly place with shops, clothing stores, souvenir shops and restaurants.

Indeed, the Port of Crouesty is very beautiful with its half-timbered houses above the shops. The temptation was too strong not to buy anything, so we put our hands in the wallet and we had fun with Breton biscuits (pancakes and palets) at "La Trinitaine", as well as some postcards and souvenir photos.

To extend our walk, we headed towards the Path of the Small Mountain. In reality, there is a hiking circuit, called "Circuit Petit Mont-Arzon", which starts from the Fogeo Beach and continues under the name of "Path of the Small Mountain" to then arrive at the Port of Crouesty. The walk lasts about 1 hour and is easy. On this path, we are along the sea and have a beautiful view of the Bay of Quiberon. Short break to observe the Chapel of Croisty where a mass is said there every year in memory of the sailors who disappeared at sea, then we retrace our steps to the Port of Crouesty.

> Day 4: The Tip of Bilgroix and its menhir

The Tip of Bilgroix is about a 30-minute walk from Arzon city center. To get there, there are two possibilities: take the coastal path, which begins at Port-Lenn Beach, and return by road, or vice versa. In order to save the best for last, we started with the road. So we went through the residential areas where we saw beautiful houses with gardens full of flowers and very green. Once arrived at the tip of Bilgroix, we come across an incredible 180 ° view of the sea. Blue as far as the eye can see, sailboats and fishing boats gliding on sea currents, the intense movement of the waves : a sublime landscape!

The Tip of Bilgroix is also known for its menhir, erected in honor of the patron saint of Brittany: Saint-Anne. For the curious, an orientation table, with a detailed map of the Gulf of Morbihan and the Bay of Quiberon, is at your disposal. It is also very practical to know the name of the islands in front of us. After admiring the panorama for a long time, we turned back, taking the coastal path. Throughout our walk, we never stopped observing the ocean, fascinated by its beauty.

> Day 5: Discovery by bike of the villages of Kerners and the Net and the Pen Castel Mill

Rather than taking the car and especially to be more free, we got on our bikes to explore the villages inland. First of all, we started our route with the hamlet of Kerners in the north-east of Arzon. As soon as we entered the village, we were amazed by the intense flowering of the stone houses. At every street corner, we discovered houses, each more flowered than the next, of all colors: it was superb to see!

Then we continued on the same road towards the Pen Castel Mill. It is an old 12th century tidal mill that operated according to the tides. After having been a restaurant and even a nightclub, the Pen Castel Mill now belongs to the municipality of Arzon, which strives to restore and preserve it. A very beautiful period building covered with roses!

The next stop on our cycling journey is the Net. It is a very charming little village with houses full of flowers. To get there, we took the cycle paths that serve most of the villages of the Rhuys Peninsula. Finally, we passed a pond near Saint-Gildas-de-Rhuys before returning to Port-Navalo.

> Day 6: Boat tour in the Gulf of Morbihan and visit of the historic center of Vannes

For our last day in Brittany, we took to the open sea by boat. From the Port of Crouesty, we sailed along the coast before entering the interior of the Gulf of Morbihan. Sea currents are also very strong at the entrance to the Gulf. Along different islands, we noticed that on some of them, the vegetation was completely ravaged by colonies of seagulls that lived there. So you're going to tell me: "But in that case, you have to drive the seagulls away!" Except that seagulls are protected species and unfortunately it is impossible to change anything. I find that frankly disturbing and I do not understand why no one is doing anything.

We then toured the Monks Island. With no less than 6km long, Monks Island is one of the largest in the Gulf of Morbihan. Seen from the sky, it has the shape of a cross. Furthermore, it is classified as a registered site, that is to say a natural space that needs to be preserved. We got as close as possible to the coast by boat and we could see the port. During our excursion, we breathed the sea air, enjoyed the freshness of the wind on our faces. We saw magnificent Breton landscapes scroll by with sailboats which sailed on the waves, beach huts and ports which sheltered the effervescence of holidaymakers. A superb experience on the water!

Arrived a good hour early in Vannes, where our train to Paris was waiting for us, we decided to explore the historic center of Vannes on foot. Each street bears witness to the historical past of Vannes, a medieval town. Very pretty half-timbered houses dot the narrow streets and a warm atmosphere emanates in the center. We then visited Saint-Pierre Cathedral, a magnificent cathedral both for its majestic vaults and for its interior. Although this visit to Vannes was short, I enjoyed walking among the half-timbered houses and looking up to admire the Cathedral.

> My little tips and advices to discover Port-Navalo and its surroundings

Going for a walk or a bike ride remains the easiest way to savor the landscapes. Many cycle paths cross the Rhuys Peninsula up and down and serve villages such as Kerners, the Net, Saint-Gildas-de-Rhuys, Sarzeau ... I also recommend the coastal paths to have a clear view of the sea and benefit from a magnificent setting, even if it adds walking time. My favorite of our stay in Port-Navalo is definitely the Port of Crouesty for its tourist and traditional shops.

Coming to Brittany means immersing yourself in this region of western France and discovering new ways of living. I advise you to taste mainly good fresh products. Thus, the markets are the best places to find fresh products, especially for fish such as skate, mackerel and lobster. The Port-Navalo market is very warm with attractive stalls, stalls of small local artisans and clothing. Another local specialty: the buckwheat pancake. The most delicious pancakes are prepared in local Breton creperies such as "La Sorcière" in Port-Navalo.

That's it, it's already the end! I hope this article made you want to come to Port-Navalo one day and that you learned some interesting things. This Breton village is very charming and there are plenty of other things to do in this part of the Gulf of Morbihan such as the Domaine de Suscinio and Saint-Gildas de Rhuys. Don't hesitate to leave a comment just below to give me your opinion, to like this article (the little red heart) and to share it on social networks. To be kept informed of the release of future articles, you can also subscribe to the newsletter on the home page.

See you soon for new articles!

Laura🤍