Harbour

Rivière de Belon

3.6Riec-sur-Bélon, FranceMorbihan

Maximum length: 7.5 m
VHF channel: 9
Maximum draught: 1.5 m

Tidal river mouth between Riec-sur-Bélon and Moëlan-sur-Mer in southern Finistère, known for its flat oyster beds.

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Enter from the Baie de Brigneau between Port Manec'h to the west and Merrien to the east. The Bélon bar shifts with winter storms, cross near high water. Inside, the channel winds between oyster tables, stay in the marked fairway. Max draught 1,5 m reported in the moorings. VHF 9. Port du Bélon mooring field 0,3 nm SW, Rosbras pontoon 1,8 nm upstream W.

Practical

Visitor mooring buoys on both banks managed seasonally. No fuel on the river, nearest at Port Manec'h or Doëlan. Water point at the Bélon pontoon. Two oyster tasting cabins face the moorings, the most known being Chez Jacky on the right bank, open April to September.

Ashore

Riec-sur-Bélon village 3 km inland, market on Wednesday morning place de l'Église. Coastal path GR34 follows both banks of the ria towards Port Manec'h 4 km west. Château de Rosbras ruin overlooks the upstream pontoon.

History

The Belon flat oyster, Ostrea edulis, has been cultivated here since the 1860s when Auguste de Solminihac introduced farming in the ria, and the name Belon became a protected designation for flat oysters fattened in the river water.