Ile aux Moines travel guide

Visit Ile aux Moines (Brittany, France)

The Ile-aux-Moines is the largest island to be found in the Morbihan Gulf, and is approximately six kilometres long by three kilometres wide. About 600 people live on the island, a number greatly increased during the summer tourist season.

The Ile-aux-Moines can easily be reached by boat from Port Blanc, the crossing only takes a few minutes, and is a lovely place to pass a day, exploring the countryside, enjoying the traditional Breton houses, and lazing on one of the beaches.

As you quietly enjoy the beaches and countryside of the Ile aux Moines you also come across prehistoric monuments, reminders that the island has been occupied for many thousands of years.

Exploring the Ile-aux-Moines

The most populated part of the island is towards the north, near the port, where you can stroll through the narrow streets enjoying the lovely houses in typical Breton architecture style, dating mostly from the 17th-18th centuries.

You will find quite a wide choice of small shops, bars and restaurants here in the main 'bourg' - these are more limited further south on the island, which is quieter, with just the occasional hamlet set in the countryside.

There are footpaths and cycle paths to help you make the most of your visit, including a coast path around most of the island - again the port is the best starting point (you can also hire bikes here in the port of Ile-aux-Moines to help you explore further). Visitors can not bring cars to the island.

The main beach on Ile-aux-Moines is the 'Grande Plage' near the port while another popular beach is at Goret, half way along the western coast of the island.

The island has lovely countryside to explore and there are some wooded areas to provide shelter along the way - and the coast is never far away since the island is long and thin (cross shaped).

You can also visit several interesting prehistoric / neolithic sites of interest. These include the 'cromlech de Kergonan', a series of 24 standing stones in the centre of Ile aux Moines and the dolmen at Pen Hap towards the south of the island.

The Ile aux Moines, receiving warm tides from the Atlantic, has its own micro-climate, much warmer than most of Brittany, and as you travel around you will see fig trees and mimosas, usually confined to the southern parts of France. My partner assures me we were admiring wild mimosas, figs and camelias, even if I can't tell a cactus from a palm tree myself!

Attractions nearby

You are likely to visit the Ile aux Moines as an excursion during your visit to southern Brittany. There is a great deal to discover in the region - see the Morbihan Gulf guide, including Vannes, one of our favourite French towns.

See more islands of France. You can find more travel ideas in the Morbihan guide and the Brittany guide.