Harbour

Port du Palais

3.9Le Palais, FranceMorbihan

Maximum length: 30 m
VHF channel: 9
Maximum draught: 3 m

Main harbour of Belle-Île-en-Mer, 245 berths at the foot of the Vauban citadel, on the island's north coast facing the Morbihan mainland.

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach from the mainland across the Coureau de Belle-Île, 8 NM from Quiberon. Entry between two jetties marked by red and green lights. Ferry traffic from Quiberon is constant in season, give way and call on VHF channel 9. Maximum draught 3 m at the visitor pontoons. The outer harbour dries partly at low water springs; the inner basin is a lock-retained basin with gates.

Practical

245 berths split between the avant-port for visitors and the bassin à flot for long stay. Fuel berth with diesel. Water, electricity, sanitary blocks with showers. Shops, bakeries, chandler and two supermarkets within 300 m of the quay. Ferries to Quiberon run year round from the same harbour.

Ashore

Citadelle Vauban rebuilt by Vauban from 1683, now a museum on the island's history, sits directly above the port. Sentier côtier GR 340 circles the island over 85 km and starts from the quay. Beach of Ramonette 600 m north of the port. Bike rental on the quayside, useful for the wild south coast and the plage de Donnant at 7 km.

History

Le Palais was fortified by Nicolas Fouquet, Superintendent of Finances under Louis XIV, who bought Belle-Île in 1658. After his fall, Vauban rebuilt the citadel between 1683 and 1689. The British occupied the island from 1761 to 1763 during the Seven Years' War, before it was returned to France in exchange for Menorca.