Le Palais
We set sail at midday from Vannes to catch the tide out of the Morbihan to call at Port Haliguen then on to Le Palais the capital of Belle Ile. Again it was light winds so we made between 3 and 6 knots over the ground depending on the current.
As we arrived at Port Haliguen we were third in a queue of boats to berth. At first we were told there was no space as they were holding a festival to celebrate the opening of the new inner harbour. However, they found us a space along with several other boats on the visitors pontoon for one night.
New inner basin at Port Haliguen
The next day a Northerly Force 3 was forecast, and we had a gentle sail dead downwind wing and wing until the wind dropped and we motored, arriving outside Le Palais at 1100.
The inner basins of Le Palais are locked, and the basin is quite narrow so you have to wait for the boats to leave before you are guided in. We had quite a long wait, during which time Roger and Diana on Alchemy left the harbour warning us not to go in as it was terribly noisy where they were berthed in the basin and they were leaving a day early to get some sleep! We knew that there was a music festival on, and we decided to risk it.
After some confusion as to our draft we were put on a finger berth on the inner Bassin de La Saline. We checked with the berthing master that it would be alright with our 1.7m draught and he said it would. Later he came back and moved us to another finger berth which he said would be better. It was fine for the two nights we stayed there, and better than rafting up in the Bassin a Flot.
Shadow in the Bassin de la Saline
The music festival was lively. Right by the Bassin a Flot quay there was a bar with very loud thumping music - we understood why Alchemy had not stayed another night. However, all was calm where we were berthed. We enjoyed walking through Le Palais listening to the local bands during the evening.
Local Bike Shop Band
Les Pigo
The weather was showery but next day we risked a walk along the North Coast. We had hoped to visit the Vauban Citadel, but it was closed for refurbshment.
Entrance to the Vauban Citadel.
Around Le Palais there is a mix of interesting houses, shops and restaurants with views back over the harbour as you walk South from the town.
We walked as far as La Belle Fontaine. This is a covered reservoir with a quay on the coast that was built in 1703 to supply French ships with water. Needless to say the ability to supply fresh water to ships was strategically important and one of the reasons the British captured the island in 1761 during the Seven Years' War.
La Belle Fontaine
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