Baie d'Étel

The Étel river flows into the ocean through a deep ria, that river valley invaded by the sea that characterises several estuaries of southern Brittany. At its mouth, a moving sandbar, known locally as the "barre d'Étel", has made the passage sadly famous among sailors for its danger and the number of shipwrecks it has caused over the centuries.

Upstream, the ria widens into a vast body of water dotted with sandbanks and mudflats, a landscape changing with the tides that offers a choice habitat for many species of waders. The small port of Étel, with its typical fishermen's houses, long lived on tuna fishing before turning more to boating.

The bay is discovered both on foot, along the coastal paths that run along the ria, and by kayak or small boat to explore the most discreet corners of the banks. Autumn and winter, favourable for watching migratory birds, pleasantly complement the busier summer months.

← Other sites in Morbihan