Ile aux Moines "Monk’s Island" (619 Ilois - Surface area : 310 ha - 6 km long and 3 km wide)

Visit Île aux moines's website

500 meters away from the mainland and only 5 min to get there by boat ! Nevertheless, your sure to be disoriented. Explore, by foot or by bicycle, this tiny world and its contrasted landscapes : narrow pathways skirting through mini hills, sinking down mini valleys and crossing mini woods which names come straight out of fairy tales : Love woods, Regret woods, the Sighing woods… Fountains, chapels, windmill ruins and megalithic vestiges are well hidden behind pine trees and fig trees.

Getting There

 

All year round

Izenah Croisières - Le Port - 56780 Ile aux Moines
Tel. + 33 (0)2 97 26 31 45 - Fax. + 33 (0)2 97 26 31 01
Website : www.izenah-croisieres.com
E-mail : Izenah.croisieres@wanadoo.fr
Many crossings and in only 5 min. From Port-Blanc en Baden (Morbihan).

Seasonal

Compagnie des îles - Le Lanno Locmiquel - 56870 Baden
Tel. + 33 (0)2 97 46 18 19 - Fax. + 33 (0)2 97 57 14 72
Website : www.compagniedesiles.com - E-mail : cie-iles@wanadoo.fr
Sightseeing Tours of the Morbihan Gulf . Call on Ile aux Moines or Arz island, from Vannes, Port-Navalo, Locmariaquer, Quiberon-Port Haliguen.
From Easter till end of September.

Navix - Gare Maritime, Parc du Golfe - 56000 Vannes.
Tel. + 33 (0)2 97 46 60 00 - Fax. + 33 (0)2 97 46 60 29
Website : www.navix.fr - E-mail : info@navix.fr
From Vannes, Port-Navalo, La Trinité-sur-Mer, Locmariaquer, Auray and Le Bono. Sightseeing Tours of the Morbihan Gulf . Call on Ile aux Moines. Or directly to Ile aux Moines.
From Easter till October and school breaks.

What to see

 

Megalithic sites

24 menhirs forming a cromlec'h, dating back to 7000 years are situated in the village of Kergonan. Farther away, the village of Kerno shelters small dolmens and a Calvary. Finally, you can see at Pen Hap, the major dolmen of the island consisting of an off-centered corridor and a rectangular chamber.

 

La Maison du Patrimoine de Kergonan et le site de de Penhap – Kergonan Heritage Centre and Penhap site

Kergonan - 56780 Ile aux Moines - Tel. City hall + 33 (0)2 97 26 32 61
Open in July and August. The centre used to be a typical old farm and now belongs to the Regional Authority. One can discover the story of the island : ancient history with its megaliths, and modern history, the last century, on the island’s life style.
South of the island, Pen-hap belongs to the Coastal protection agency « Conservatoire du Littoral ». The landscapes are outstanding, whether they are cultivated or natural areas. Guided nature tours in high season.

La Pointe du Trech – Trech headland

North of the island,  breathtaking panoramic view of the bay.

Getting around

 

Bicycle rentals

Abbis Location - near the landing pier - Port - 56780 Île aux Moines.
Tel. / Fax. + 33 (0)2 97 53 64 64
www.rent-my-bike.com - snlcm@rent-my-bike.com

L'Île à Vélo - Le Port - 56780 Île aux Moines.
Tel. : + 33 (0)2 97 26 38 70.

Le Cap Horn - Le Port - 56780 Île aux Moines.
Tel. : + 33 (0)6 11 84 59 54.

P'tit Louis - Le Port - 56780 Île aux Moines.
Tel. : + 33 (0)2 97 26 35 21.

Accommodations/Food

 

Hotel - Hotel-Restaurant

Hôtel Le San Francisco ** - Le Port - 56780 Île aux Moines
Tel. : + 33 (0)2 97 26 31 52 - Fax : + 33 (0)2 97 26 35 59.

Bar-Hôtel de L'Isle - Rue du Commerce - 56780 Île aux Moines.
Tel. : + 33 (0)2 97 26 32 50 - Fax : + 33 (0)2 97 26 39 54

Camp site

Municipal camp site : Camping Municipal "Le Vieux Moulin" **
Information at the city hall "Mairie" : Tel. : + 33 (0)2 97 26 32 61 - Fax : + 33 (0)2 97 26 38 27
In high season : Tel. : + 33 (0)2 97 26 30 68
E-mail : mairie@ileauxmoines.fr

Holiday rentals

4 self catering accommodations
Reservation at the City Hall : Tel. : + 33 (0)2 97 26 32 61 - Fax : + 33 (0)2 97 26 38 27
E-mail : mairie@ileauxmoines.fr

Bed and Breakfasts

KERISA - Le Bourg - 56780 Île aux Moines
Tel: + 33 (0)2 97 26 32 52
Bed and breakfast “3 clés vacances” – rooms and apartments all year round
Website : www.kerisa.com

Restaurant

Restaurant "Les Embruns" - Rue du Commerce - 56780 Île aux Moines.
Tel. : + 33 (0)2 97 26 30 86 - Fax : + 33 (0)2 97 26 31 94

Crêperie du Ponant - Rue de l'église - 56780 Île aux Moines.
Tel. : + 33 (0)2 97 26 30 70

Côte et jardin" - Rue Neuve - 56780 Île aux Moines
Tel. : + 33 (0)2 97 26 33 33

Chez Charlemagne" - Le Port - 56780 Île aux Moines
Tel. : + 33 (0)2 97 26 32 43

Le Cap Horn" - Le Port - 56780 Île aux Moines
Tel. : + 33 (0)2 97 26 31 12

L'Huitrière" - Rue du Commerce - 56780 Île aux Moines
Tel. : + 33 (0)2 97 26 38 53

Crêperie du Ponant - Rue de l'église - 56780 Île aux Moines
Tel. : + 33 (0)2 97 26 30 70

L'Îlot Gourmand - Le Port - 56780 Île aux Moines
Tel. : + 33 (0)2 97 26 35 62

Nature

 

Just like its neighbour Arz island, Ile aux Moines is an outstanding scenic lookout for the numerous birds of the Morbihan gulf. At the end of autumn and in winter, you’ll certainly see a few of the thousands of gooses that stay here during those bad weather days.
During the high season, guided visits are proposed in order to explore the natural resources and the megalithic monuments of the island. Maison de Kergonan and Penhap site.

Practical addresses

 

Tourist Office : Office de Tourisme du Pays de Vannes
1 rue Thiers - BP 98 - 56000 VANNES Cedex
Tel. + 33 (0)2 97 47 24 34 - Fax : + 33 (0)2 97 47 29 49

City hall : Mairie  - 56780 ILE AUX MOINES
Tel. + 33 (0)2 97 26 32 61 - Fax : + 33 (0)2 97 26 38 27 - site : www.ileauxmoines.fr

Information stand : Point "I" (seasonal) : Tel./ Fax : + 33 (0)2 97 26 32 45

Île aux Moines

The agenda of

15/8/2008 - Sailing festival
More information on the website of the festival

Island news (News - Events - Discussion forum) - Association (Introduction - Management - Brochures)
Discovering the Ponant islands - Useful links - Access - Legal notice

"Site réalisé grâce au concours financier du
Conseil Régional de Bretagne et de l'Europe (FEDER)."