Ile de Groix

Visit Ile de Groix, Brittany

Ile de Groix is found off the Finistere coast of southern Brittany, just south of Lorient. The island is 7km by 3km, making it the second largest Brittany island after Belle-Ile-en-Mer.

The historic development of Groix, and in particular its main town and the region around Port-Tudy, was due to tuna fishing. Nowadays tourism has largely taken the role, although an active fishing fleet still operates from Port Trudy.

Unlike some of the islands off the coast of Brittany, Ile-de-Groix is also large enough to have several small villages and hamlets away from the main port, each with its own appeal, so there is quite a lot to see here. In the main town on the island take a look at the steeple on the 18th century church - rather unusually it is topped by a tuna to indicate wind direction!

There are many attractive old fishermen's cottages to be seen, many of the little houses painted in bright colours, and the island also has several small chapels, two lighthouses, and a good number of public washhouses that you will come across as you explore.

Scenery and beaches

The highlight of the island for beach lovers is the Plage des Grands Sables at the eastern end of the island. One particular unusual feature of this beach is that it is convex - a result of the unusual ocean currents that arrive from the top of the island to the north-west, and the south of the island. Other beaches can also be found, such as the small beach at Locmaria to the south-east and the Plage des sables Rouges at the far eastern end of the Ile-de-Groix.

The south-west coast is very different in character, with cliffs and craggy rocks instead of quiet beaches, and has perhaps the scenic highlight of the island, the Trou d'Enfer, a dramatic break in the cliffs with stunning views. Head towards the coast around the Port of Saint-Nicolas Port and around towards the Pointe de Pen-Men at the western end of the island for this and other great coastal scenery.

Other attractions

There is a small museum dedicated to the the island in Port-Tudy - the Ecomuseum of the Ile-de-Groix - which covers a wide span of history starting from prehistoric finds on the island and then looking at agriculture and fishing in particular. The highlight is the 1950s lifeboat which looks curiously like something from a children's picture book!

Getting to Ile de Groix

Ferries to the island start from Lorient, and the crossing takes about 45 minutes.

Suggested places to visit near Ile de Groix, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Carnac Plage 30km; Quiberon 31km; La Trinite sur Mer 33km; Auray 37km; Saint-Goustan 37km; Belle Ile 39km; Megaliths of Locmariaquer 40km; Sainte-Anne d'Auray 40km; Locmariaquer 40km; Ile Glenan 41km; Concarneau 42km; Port Navalo 43km; Port de Crouesty 44km; Arzon 44km; Ile aux Moines 47km; Ile Houat 48km;

See these places and more on a map at places near Ile de Groix

Ile de Groix tourism: sights and attractions nearby

Massif Dunaire de Gavres-Quiberon - grand site of france (11km) : Parc Victor Chevassu - remarkable garden (16km) : Jardins de Kerambar’h - remarkable garden (32km) : Archipel des Glénan - site of natural beauty (41km) : Marais de Mousterlin - site of natural beauty (48km) : Golfe du Morbihan - site of natural beauty (50km) : Parc botanique de Cornouaille - remarkable garden (59km) :

French version: see Ile de Groix (Francais)