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No weather cock for this town; it's a very
symbolic tuna that stands proudly atop the steeple at Loctudy. But the
tuna doesn't seem to want to follow in the direction of the wind anymore.
Although it doesn't really matter, because in town they say that the tuna
always points toward the sea...
For many generations and up until WW2, the people of the
Groix Islands lived off the "germon" or white tuna. It was formerly
the first French port for this type of fish. Today, Groix has found another
way to make money: tourism. The crossing is very rapid from the "continent"
(France): 45 minutes of very pleasant sailing. Leave your car in Lorient,
there is a big parking lot there (no surveillance) near the pier, or another
parking lot with an attendant a little further down, but you'll have to
pay. The ride across will cost you about 50 FF per person. You can bring
your car (450 francs), but you should make a reservation in advance.
Groix is the walker's (or bicycle rider's) paradise. As soon as you arrive in port, hundreds of bikes are just waiting
for you to rent them (with a wagon behind if necessary). If
you need a place to stay for a night, the gîte on the
quai is just fine, or you can also give the Inn a try. On the
island, you'll find a few B&Bs, a municipal camp ground
and a private one at pointe des Chats. In the summer, you should
expect to see a few traffic jams on the island... unbelievable.
Creeks, beaches, the island's 1400 hectares present a great
variety of surprising landscapes. The tridactyls (sea gulls)
have the run of the place, and seem to follow you wherever you
go. Grands-Sables beach is special in that its the only convex
beach in all of Europe. Your little future mineralogists might
find some granites are a few rare pieces of glaucophane near
the Pointe des Chats.(note: rock collecting may not be allowed
there ) Inland, the dozens of wells and fountains are reminders
of the large amount of fresh water that flows underground. Now
there's is a good idea for an afternoon's hike; walking from
well to well or fountain to fountain.
Unfortunately, these constructions are often in
ruins, which doesn't seem to bother local authorities(A little
sad isn't it?). Don't miss the superb boat shaped ex-votos inside
the chapels on the island. You also can't miss out on a visit
to the Pen-Men natural reserve or the Groix Eco-Museum at the
port. You'll get a glimpse at the very laborious maritime history
of the people of Groix.
Grab a cup of coffee at the " l'Écume des jours
" bookshop. You're welcome to read while you're there. And don't
miss a stop at Ti-Bedeuf, THE local tavern, for a beer in a
real MARITIME kind of atmosphere.
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