Belle-Île is the largest of the Brittany islands — eighty-five square kilometres of moorland, cliffs and small inland villages, lying ten nautical miles south of Quiberon. The ferry takes 45 minutes from Quiberon to the main port of Le Palais, a Vauban-fortified harbour with a citadel that still dominates the entrance.
The west coast — the Côte Sauvage — is the dramatic one: rocky coves, vertical cliffs, the famous Needles of Port-Coton. The east coast is sheltered, with calm beaches at Plage de Donnant and Plage de la Pointe. Sauzon, on the north coast, is a particularly pretty pastel-painted fishing port. A long-distance coastal path runs around the whole island — 85 kilometres, doable in five days. Hire a bike or a small car for shorter visits.