In all seasons
From island to island
They are numerous, sometimes invisible, but the islands of the Abers archipelago are there. Scattered across the waters of the Celtic Sea. Each with its own history and heritage.
The Americans land at Aber Wrac'h
What a strange name for the island known in Breton as "Enez Terc'h". And nicknamed the Island of the Americans.
The story goes back to the First World War. The American army set up a seaplane base on this small 12-hectare island at the entrance to Aber Wrac'h. The base housed 53 officers and over 400 sailors! Charged with monitoring the coastline and retaliating against German U-boats. In the end, this base was little used, and the seaplanes often stayed at the buoy.
testimonial
The elders remember: "I used to accompany my father on his daily trip with his cart to Enez Terc'h in Saint-Laurent. We had to get there when the sea was low. The soldiers would give us chocolate and chewing gum... One day our horse swam back to the mainland. He probably didn't like the cowboy...!"
The island of the cross and its pyramid
Proin at varius diam. In sollicitudin
Facing the Celtic Sea, it is the last rampart of the Ste Marguerite peninsula. From the dunes and Kloukouri beach, it's easy to make out its proudly erected sea wall. Painted white for greater visibility, it accompanies daytime navigation. Just a few paddle strokes away, an island with the scent of the end of the world!
The legend of the sunken city
It's our very own ville d'Is, and the legend of Tolente feeds the imagination of many a sailor. We read that in 106 AD, Tolente was a Roman military port with a population of 30,000. 300 boats took refuge here. Around 878, the town was ravaged by Norman pirates. Before an earthquake destroyed the town forever, swallowed up by the sea. Where is the memory of its kings and queens today? Where was it located? Near the Bay of Angels, not far from Fort Cézon? The legend and the mystery remain!
Île Guénioc: some of the oldest remains in Brittany
This discreet little island off Landéda's Ste Marguerite peninsula hides its secrets! Listed as a Monument Historique, it is home to precious archaeological remains.
In fact, the site features no less than four cairns, themselves housing dolmens. Their construction is estimated to date back to 4,600 BC! This makes the site one of the oldest monuments in Europe, on a par with the Barnenez tumulus in the Bay of Morlaix. The preservation of these archaeological remains, dating from the end of the Palaeolithic to the Middle Ages, i.e. over 10,000 years, has been made possible by the island nature of the site.
Unauthorized access
It goes without saying that access to the island is not permitted, in the interests of preserving these treasures. To satisfy the curious, we've put together an attractive travelling exhibition, presenting the results of the excavations, lifestyles of yesteryear and the particularities of this island, which is truly like no other.
Tariec: a pleasant surprise just a stone's throw from home
Menhir, cairn, ancient chapel... The past has a lot to tell us about Tariec Island! Situated at the end of a foreshore exposed at low tide on the Ste Marguerite peninsula, the island is accessible on foot. The island is divided into two parts, renamed over time and tides: Tariec Bihan (small) and Tariec vraz (large). The remains of a seaweed kiln can also be found here. During the spring blooming season, the seaweeds give a generous pink hue to the aerhaline lawns.
The islands as a playground
Geocaching fans will be able to follow the tide timetables to try and reach the islets and discover new caches! Of course, we'd like to take this opportunity to remind you to be careful when travelling on the foreshore. The tide doesn't wait, and it's very important to estimate distances and be back 1h30 after low tide.
Iles Trevoc'h: bird island
This group of islands lies off the mouth of the Aber Benoît in the commune of Saint-Pabu. Many seabirds make their home here, including the great cormorant and the crested cormorant. But there are also herring and brown gulls (around 200 pairs) and smaller individuals such as the very vocal magpie oystercatcher and the maritime pipit. All these species live around the Abers islands, and you'll be able to observe them on the virgin island. Because Trevoc'h is not a private property or a nesting site, access is not permitted from early spring to late summer. Let's preserve the tranquillity of the site and the animals!
Donate your time
Do you have time to devote to a worthy cause? Why not become a volunteer with Bretagne Vivante? Ornithological observation and counting, participative workcamps, botanical studies... There are so many ways to help preserve Brittany's natural environments!