By Corey Sandler, Destination Consultant Silversea Cruises
Belle-Ile-en-Mer.
Beautiful Island in the Sea.
And that it is.
“La bien nommée”, aptly named.
At the island’s main town of Le Palais, the first thing you’ll notice is the star-shaped Citadelle Vauban, which was built by the famous French military engineer Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban in the 18th century.
It was called by some, “The Battleship of the Atlantic.”
The fort now houses a luxury hotel-restaurant, a peaceable repurposing.
On this trip I went with guests to the spectacular Port Coton, a geological formation that was an inspiration for Claude Monet and many other great impressionist painters. Here’s what we saw in the afternoon light:
We also made a visit to the private garden of an accomplished landscaper and botanist on the island. He has made a paradise on the earth of Belle-Ile-en-Mer:
All photos by Corey Sandler, 2018. All rights reserved,
THE DIVINE SARAH
It is said that within an hour after first setting foot on Belle-Ile-en-Mer in August 1894, Sarah Bernhardt purchased an abandoned fort on the cliff top at La Pointe des Poulins.
Bernhardt was 50 years old at the time, still active in her career. She would spend parts of her last thirty years there.
Bernhardt ended up creating a compound for friends and family, which she called her “menagerie.”
Scenes from Bell-Ile, including part of Sarah Bernhardt’s home. All photos by Corey Sandler, all rights reserved.
Belle-Ile, Brittany’s largest island, lies about 9 miles or 15 kilometers off the coast of Morbihan.
It is a place of beautiful beaches—about 60 of them, spectacular craggy coastline, and a lovely pastoral interior.
About 5,000 people live there year-round; over the course of a summer about 50,000 come to visit.
A menagerie, indeed.
All photos and text Copyright 2018 by Corey Sandler, all rights reserved.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF ONE OF MY BOOKS, PLEASE CONTACT ME.
SEE THE “How to Order a Photo or Autographed Book” TAB ON THIS PAGE FOR INSTRUCTIONS
————-
Now available, the revised Second Edition of “Henry Hudson Dreams and Obsession” by Corey Sandler, for the Amazon Kindle. You can read the book on a Kindle device, or in a Kindle App on your computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.
If you would like to purchase an autographed copy, please see the tab on this page, “HOW TO ORDER A PHOTO OR AUTOGRAPHED BOOK”
Here’s where to order an electronic copy for immediate delivery:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IA9QTBM
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF ONE OF MY BOOKS, PLEASE CONTACT ME.
SEE THE “How to Order a Photo or Autographed Book” TAB ON THIS PAGE FOR INSTRUCTIONS