ILE DE GROIX

Just 45 minutes from Lorient, the Île de Groix is a natural mineral miracle. Born from a rather unique geological surprise, it is the source of more than 60 varieties of minerals. Spanning 8 km in length and 3 km in width, 17 quintessentially Breton villages dot this isle, home to 2200 inhabitants. From your disembarkation from the mainland at Port Tudy, you’ll immediately feel the unique charm of this land of history at full force. Indeed, it’s nature that has given the Île de Groix its rugged character. Here you’ll find Europe’s only convex beach (meaning it shifts slightly from year to year), shale rocks of surprising shades and blue glaucophane rock, which can be found nowhere else but Greenland!

Tuna fisherman have also helped to shape the prosperity and personality of the Île de Groix. Indeed, at the start of the 20th century, Port Tudy was the most important tuna port in France, and you won’t find a rooster on the weathervane of the church’s bell tower, but rather a tuna.  This bell tower is located in Le Bourg, the island’s main village, where you can spend a morning exploring the market, the small shops and boutiques.