Port du Crouesty

The Port du Crouesty is a large marina at the tip of the Rhuys peninsula, in the commune of Arzon, at the mouth of the Gulf of Morbihan. It lies about thirty-five kilometres from Vannes, at the end of a long arm of land that separates the gulf from the open Atlantic. The port was built in the 1970s as part of the development of the Brittany coast for sailing and tourism, and it is now one of the biggest marinas on the Atlantic coast of France, with berths for well over a thousand boats, a basin lined with houses and flats, and shops, cafés and restaurants around the quays.

The Gulf of Morbihan, whose Breton name Mor Bihan means little sea, is a nearly enclosed bay of about a hundred square kilometres, scattered with islands, said to number as many as there are days in the year, though in practice a few dozen. It is among the most beautiful bays in the world and a member of the club that bears that name, and the tides rush in and out of the narrow entrance, creating strong currents. The islands include the Île aux Moines and the Île d'Arz, which are inhabited and can be visited by boat, and many others that are tiny and wild. The nearby Gavrinis cairn, a Neolithic burial mound with remarkable carved stones, is among the finest prehistoric monuments in Brittany.

From the Crouesty marina, visitors can take boat tours around the gulf, with commentary about the islands, the birdlife and the history of the shores, and there are trips to Belle-Île and the Houat and Hoëdic islands out in the Atlantic. Sailing schools, boat hire and fishing trips are available, and the port is a busy place in summer, with yachts coming and going. From the quays, watching the boats and the light on the water is a pleasant way to spend an hour. The port is a starting point for walks too. The coast path of the Rhuys peninsula runs from here past small beaches and rocky points, and the nearby tumulus of Petit Mont, a prehistoric mound at the edge of the sea, offers views of the gulf and the ocean.

Office hours for the port administration are limited, with a lunch break, but the quays are open at all times, and facilities for visiting yachts include fuel, water and showers. A visit is free apart from any boat trip or activity you choose. The peninsula is quiet in spring and autumn, when the light is soft and the crowds are smaller.

From Crouesty it is easy to reach other places on the Rhuys peninsula, including the Château de Suscinio, a medieval castle of the dukes of Brittany on the shore. In Vannes, the old town with half-timbered houses, the city walls and the Place du Martray give a good contrast with the sea, and the Musée de Préhistoire in Carnac shows the story of the megaliths. The port suits sailors, families and walkers.