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There are these lighthouses, invincible against the winds and waves. There are these islands, conducive to calm, of a disconcerting beauty. There are these shores: beaches, cliffs, ports, fortifications… The French Atlantic coasts are populated by these cities, these towns, these natural sites which attract travelers from all over the world every year. From the Bordeaux region to Brittany , the crazy charm of the Atlantic promises varied discoveries. 

From the Emerald Coast to the Silver Coast, the Atlantic coast of France is full of treasures. Islands, cities and centuries-old ports have forged their reputation thanks to their close links with the sea. It is this heritage that is pleasant to discover during a cruise in Brittany and the Bordeaux region.

Your chance to visit historic Bordeaux

If you are going to visit Bordeaux in a day, it is better to concentrate on the historic part of the city, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007. The walk then begins on the banks of the Garonne, by the unmissable Place de la Bourse and its two pavilions, representative of French classical architecture of the 18th century. The Palais de la Bourse and the Hotel des Douanes are reflected in the Water Mirror , a contemporary creation which, since 2006, has delighted Bordeaux residents and photographers. Other monuments and buildings such as the Grand Theatre, Saint-André Cathedral or Place des Quinconces are also part of the route. Wine lovers will however prefer to go to the wine and trade museumwhich pays homage to the region's 2,000-year-old winemaking tradition.

The vineyards of Pauillac

Wine connoisseurs will love this part. Located about fifty kilometers from Bordeaux, in the Gironde estuary, the town of Pauillac is famous throughout the world for the vineyards and castles that surround it, including Château Latour, Château Pichon Longueville and Château Mouton Rothschild. . It is on these lands that produce the best red wines in the world that you can follow a guided tour to learn more about certain vineyards, the composition of their soils and the winemaking processes.

Hiking on the Ile d'Aix

The island of Aix is ​​a haven of peace which extends over a little over 1 km2. It is located off the peninsula of Fouras and to the east of the island of Oléron. But to appreciate this small crescent in the middle of the ocean, classified as a remarkable natural site, you have to take the coastal path . 7 km long, it allows you to admire the lighthouse with two towers, to walk along the beaches, the marshes, the vineyards, the low houses with colored shutters, to enter the small forest and to come out on Pointe Saint-Eluard which offers a spectacular view. History enthusiasts will push the door of the Napoleon Museum, opened in the house where the Emperor stayed from July 8 to 15, 1815, before surrendering to the English.

Escape to Belle-île-en-Mer

Off the Quiberon peninsula, Belle-Île-en-Mer is the largest of the Ponant islands and has a name that suits it perfectly. On one side the rocky peaks seem to tear the ocean, on the other the sandy beaches are caressed by clear waters. The moors, the dunes, the cliffs constitute a raw nature in the middle of which a few villages of smart houses have grown. The small ports and lighthouses, like the adorable one at Pointe des Poulains , add incredible charm to this piece of land that we like to explore by bike. Gardening enthusiasts will appreciate a visit to Jardin Eden du Voyageur . Its 3,000 m2 list flowers from all over the world in a panache of flamboyant colors and fascinating anecdotes.

Oyster tasting and visit to Saint-Malo

The ramparts to Saint-Malo guard the entrance to the Gulf of Morbihan. The corsair city, which saw the birth of the explorer Jacques Cartier, unrolls its charming promenade lined with 19th century residences, along the beach of Bon Secours , 3 kilometers long. In the old town, Place Chateaubriand , near Porte Saint-Thomas, is one of those pleasant meeting points: bars, restaurants and markets enliven the district. From the Saint-Vincent cathedral dating from the 13th century to the houses of corsairs from the 18th century, Old Saint-Malo recalls its past closely linked to maritime trade. To taste the oystersamong the best in the region, go to Cancale in one of the oyster farms! A zest of lemon on seafood, a piece of bread, good salted butter, a glass of white wine, the sea air: happiness! The oysters of Cancale were classified as intangible cultural heritage by Unesco in November 2019!

Tour the Glenan Islands

The Gleanan Islands could almost be mistaken for being in the Indian Ocean, not Brittany. And yet, we are in Finistère. Beaches of fine white sand, turquoise and transparent water, part of the world… a few miles off Concarneau. Uninhabited, the seven islands of the Glénan archipelago come alive in summer to show travelers their beauty: the emblematic and endemic Narcissus form an immaculate flowerbed, the protective lighthouse of Penfret and the fort of Cigogne stand guard, the he desert island of Guiriden leaves you speechless, the island of Bananec is home to the largest sailing school in Europe. It welcomes 15,000 trainees each year in an exceptional Natura 2000 listed setting .

Ouessant - France's westernmost point

A few sheep graze in green meadows, facing the sea, in front of small houses with blue shutters. The emblematic lighthouses , including that of Créac'h, stand upright against the onslaught of the ocean in strong weather. Thousands of birds find refuge in the rocks whipped by the winds. In Lampaul, the “capital” of Ouessant , we are proud to live in this “finis terrae”, this extremity of the earth, this island, the westernmost of metropolitan France. A postcard landscape representative of natural Brittany, Ouessant has been classified as a UNESCO biosphere reserve since 1988.

Bréhat - the island of flowers

Often regarded as one of France's most beautiful islands. Of small surface, the island of Bréhat , also nicknamed the island of flowers, can be discovered in two stages, on foot or better, by bike - we forget the car here: there is none. Near the landing stage, the village with its few shops and restaurants, its Saint-Michel chapel which overlooks the surroundings from its astonishing hill, and the old mill which worked thanks to the force of the tides. And then, in the north of the island, wild nature. Bréhat was the first natural site classified in France , in 1907. There are more than 120 species of birds nesting in the pink rocks characteristic of this steep coastline or flying over the moors. The two Paon and Rosédo lighthouses, stand facing the ocean, indicating to ships the safest passage through the middle of the reefs.

Mont-Saint-Michel

One of the most visited sites in France, Mont-Saint-Michel is one of France's jewels, whose history dates back to the 6th century. Impossible to pass through the region without discovering this abbey nestled on its rocky islet in the bay of the same name. To the superb architecture of the Romanesque abbey, to the Gothic ensemble nicknamed the “Marvel”, to the cloister and to the fortifications is added the grandiose spectacle of nature. The island is indeed the scene of high tides, among the largest in continental Europe.

Aven Bridge

“ Pont-Aven is a town of 14 mills and 15 houses ”. This phrase, widespread in Brittany, reminds us that this village in Finistère once prospered thanks to the milling industry. But Pont-Aven is also nicknamed the City of painters. And for good reason, from the second half of the 19th century, thanks to the opening of a railway line to this region hitherto landlocked, many people marched: from the Americans Henry Bacon or Robert Wylie to the French Paul Gauguin, Émile Bernard or Paul Sérusier. The school of Pont-Aven encouraged a whole slew of young painters to free themselves from the precepts of academic art, laying the foundations of synthetism and already prefiguring certain works of Fauvism in particular.

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