The Oyster Route :
Oysters are very rich in iron, low in calories and a good source of vitamins and minerals. France is the fourth-largest producer of oysters in the world, at 130,000 tonnes, after the United States, Japan and Korea.
The flat varieties, the only true oysters found on our coasts, are the preferred choice of the connoisseur, but these were decimated by disease in 1920 and now represent only a very small percentage of French production. The cupped varieties of Japanese (98%) and Portuguese origin are produced all along the coast, preferably close to the mouths of rivers or in indentations in the coastline.
THE 12 MAIN VARIETIES OF BRETON OYSTERS
CANCALE OYSTERS
The tides in the bay of Mont Saint-Michel are some of the highest in the world (up to 14 metres), ensuring that the oyster beds are perfectly oxygenated as a result. The strength of the currents means that the waters are continually stirred up and fresh plankton is brought in. The mesh bags used to grow the oysters are attached to metal tables between 40 and 50 cm high. After three or four years, the oysters are harvested, washed, cleaned and sorted and are full-flavoured with a salty taste and firm but tender flesh. Three to four thousand tonnes of cupped and a thousand tonnes of flat oysters are produced every year, some of which reach “horse’s hoof” size.
Nearest Relais & Châteaux:
Le Manoir de Lann-Kerellec à Trébeurden
Les Maisons de Bricourt à Cancale
Hôtel Brittany in Roscoff
Longueville Manor
PAIMPOL OYSTERS
This is the offshore oyster par excellence, produced far out at sea throughout Paimpol bay. The beds are exposed at every tide. They are grown in mesh bags, which gives nice "fat” oysters.
Nearest Relais & Châteaux:
Le Manoir de Lann-Kerellec à Trébeurden
Les Maisons de Bricourt à Cancale
Hôtel Brittany in Roscoff
Longueville Manor
TREGUIER RIVER OYSTERS
The estuary of the River Tréguier, in the Côtes d’Armor region, is particularly rich in marine plankton. The beds are exposed at every tide.
Nearest Relais & Châteaux:
Le Manoir de Lann-Kerellec à Trébeurden
Les Maisons de Bricourt à Cancale
Longueville Manor
MORLAIX-PENZE OYSTERS
Overlooking Morlaix bay, Carantec is situated on the tip of the peninsula between the Penzé and Morlaix rivers. It is here, in the bay and the two rivers, that the beds are located.
Nearest Relais & Châteaux:
Hôtel Brittany in Roscoff
l’Hôtel de la Plage à Sainte-Anne la Palud
Le Manoir de Lann-Kerellec à Trébeurden
NACRE DES ABERS OYSTERS
These are the most westerly oysters in France. They are grown in the Aber Wrac’h and the Aber Benoît, two deep saltwater rivers that carve a path through the north-west tip of Brittany. Oysters are grown there in a mixture of saltwater currents and freshwater streams.
Nearest Relais & Châteaux:
l’Hôtel de la Plage à Sainte-Anne la Palud
Le Manoir de Lann-Kerellec à Trébeurden
Hôtel Brittany in Roscoff
RADE DE BREST OYSTERS
The oysters known as “Rade de Brest” are grown in river estuaries (particularly the Daoulas) and mud flats rich in plankton where the waters meet as the tides ebb and flow.
Nearest Relais & Châteaux:
l’Hôtel de la Plage à Sainte-Anne la Palud
AVEN-BELON OYSTERS
The term “Aven-Belon” is used to designate three superb rias on the southern coast of the Cornouaille region: Aven, Belon and Merrien. The area is not a production centre, but simply an exceptional refining area. In Brittany, rias are the estuaries (inlets) that are rocked twice a day by the rising and falling tides, mixing high volumes of fresh water from the local network of waterways (springs, rivers and so on). In 2001, the producers of Riec-sur-Belon created and launched a joint brand to promote the flat oysters of Riec-sur-Belon using the designation “Fine flat Belon oysters, quality and traceability controlled”.
Nearest Relais & Châteaux:
le Château de Locguénolé à Hennebont
l’Hôtel de la Plage à Sainte-Anne la Palud
le Castel Clara à Belle-Île
ETEL RIVER OYSTERS
Produced in the “River Etel”, a true inland sea that penetrates deep into the lush Morbihan countryside, making a jagged indentation along the shoreline.
Nearest Relais & Châteaux:
le Château de Locguénolé à Hennebont
le Castel Clara à Belle-Île
QUIBERON OYSTERS
The water here is of a very specific kind, rich in algae and plankton, refreshed twice a day by the Saint-Philibert river and Quiberon bay. This gives the oysters a fine invigorating balance of flavours.
Nearest Relais & Châteaux:
le Castel Clara à Belle-Île
le Château de Locguénolé à Hennebont
GULF OF MORBIHAN OYSTERS
The Gulf of Morbihan is a true inland sea, continually crossed by violent currents, which fills and empties as the tides ebb and flow. Plankton grows there on the numerous sea grasses.
Nearest Relais & Châteaux:
le Château de Locguénolé à Hennebont
le Castel Clara à Belle-Île
Le Domaine de Rochevilaine à Billiers
L’Auberge Bretonne à la Roche Bernard
La Bretesche à Missillac
Le Fort de l’Océan au Croisic
Le Castel Marie Louise à la Baule
PENERF OYSTERS
“Penerf” oysters are grown in the folds of the marine ria where the oyster beds are located.
Nearest Relais & Châteaux:
le Castel Clara à Belle-Île
Le Domaine de Rochevilaine à Billiers
L’Auberge Bretonne à la Roche Bernard
La Bretesche à Missillac
Le Fort de l’Océan au Croisic
Le Castel Marie Louise à la Baule
LE CROISIC OYSTERS
The Traicts du Croisic form a bay that is half closed by the Pen Bron sand bar. The Grand Traict, which is dedicated to cockle-growing, is distinct from the Petit Traict, which is used to grow a variety of products. Le Croisic is the leading cockle-growing centre in France. The shellfish farmers there also grow oysters, mussels and clams.
Nearest Relais & Châteaux:
le Castel Clara à Belle-Île
Le Domaine de Rochevilaine à Billiers
L’Auberge Bretonne à la Roche Bernard
La Bretesche à Missillac
Le Fort de l’Océan au Croisic
Le Castel Marie Louise à la Baule
The Oyster Route : nearby Relais & Chateaux properties
Hôtel et Spa de la Bretesche
Hotel and restaurant on a golf course
Next to a 15th century castle, this 200-hectare property steeped in history, skilfully combines comfort and hospitality. Five truly unforgettable atmospheres are found here: a hotel in harmony with its setting, a gourmet restaurant, a brasserie with its relaxed ambience and inventive cuisine, a spa dedicated to physical and spiritual wellness and a golf course with velvety greens. This is a true haven of tranquillity where courtesy and sophistication are the order of the day. ...Read more
France, Missillac
Les Maisons de Bricourt
Restaurant and hotel on the seafront
Breathtaking views of the bay of Mont Saint Michel and, at your feet, the oyster farms and the little port of Cancale. It is to this world of illustrious seafarers that Jane and Olivier Roellinger welcome you, surrounded by their loyal team. The spirit of the restaurant “Le Coquillage” is imbued with healthy yet elegant simplicity paired with gentle hospitality. The cuisine showcasing produce from the bay of Cancale reflects the maritime adventures of this pirate country by using more than 120 spices from the East and West Indies. You will find two residences; the château “Richeux” and the cottage “Les Rimains”, as well as “Les Gîtes Marins” for families, the patisserie-tea room “Grain de Vanille”, the “Cuisine Corsaire” cookery school and the “Épices-Roellinger” boutique: all ways to share the Roellinger’s joie de vivre between heaven and sea. ...Read more
France, Saint Méloir des Ondes
Castel Clara Thalasso & Spa
Hotel and restaurant on the seafront
Belle-Île-en-Mer… “The appropriately-named” island, as the XIXth century poet Eva Jouan remarked about this “Beautiful-Island-at-Sea”. Accessible by boat, this little island has a secluded feeling about it that makes an ideal retreat for a contemplative spa break. Between indulging in the “Light legs” and “Massages of the world” body treatments, your gaze will stray over the Aiguilles de Port-Coton (amazing rocky formations that jut out in the middle of the ocean), the small pastel-coloured port of Sauzon, and your own imaginings. An occasion for absolute well-being and relaxation. ...Read more
France, Bangor
Manoir de Lan-Kerellec
Hotel and restaurant on the seafront
Surrounded by the immensity of the sea and the reefs of the Pink Granite Coast, the Manoir de LanKerellec is a jewel in Brittany’s crown. From your balcony, drink in the panoramic view of the islands of Milliau, Molène, and Losquet. Magical! Then you might want to take a walk along the coastal path to taste the sea spray, or scuba dive for a closer look at the underwater nature reserve. You might even bump into one of the crustaceans that you will find on your dinner plate that very evening… ...Read more
France, Trébeurden
Hôtel de la Plage
Hotel and restaurant on the seafront
Tartare of bass and caviar, prawn salad, carpaccio de Saint-Jacques à l’orange… These refined dishes take on a special flavor when they are served in such an ambiance:
a panoramic restaurant overlooking the ocean and, on both sides, an endless beach of fine sand. From the window of your room, you can take in the same marine beauty.
The only inconvenience: the sea makes a bit of noise at night, and you’ll have to get used to the gentle lapping of the waves… Let’s wager that you’ll easily do so! ...Read more
France, Sainte-Anne-la-Palud
Château de Locguénolé
Hotel and restaurant on the seafront
A door leads out to the ocean and to a private dock for immediate boarding. Sailing between Lorient and the island of Groix is an unforgettable experience and just one of the many pleasures in store for you at this historic castle and manor house surrounded by 120 hectares of private forest. If you aren’t much of a sailor, a helicopter flight over the cliffs of Brittany might be more your thing. Once your feet are firmly back on the ground, sample the delights of the menu of fresh seafood and Brittany’s local produce, followed by a shiatsu massage to finish off a perfect day... ...Read more
France, Kervignac
Castel Marie-Louise
Hotel and restaurant on the seafront
Its six kilometres of fine sand have made the beach at La Baule one of the most beautiful promenades on the Atlantic coast. Opposite this beach sits the Belle Époque manor where every detail is perfect. The vast lawns are immaculately kept, a tribute to the owners’ perfectionism. The delicious breakfast already hints at the other culinary delights in store such as scallops marinated in grapefruit juice and olive oil. Another great feature is the thalassotherapy centre just steps away. The ultimate chic is to go there by bike… ...Read more
France, La Baule
Domaine de Rochevilaine
Hotel and restaurant on the seafront
A vast, typically Breton area can be found in Morbihan, on the Vilaine estuary, at the tip of Pen-Lan. A site born of architectural prowess: these historic manors were taken apart stone by stone and then rebuilt by the sea. Right by the waves, spa bath therapy offers a rejuvenating, iodized therapeutic treatment. As for the restaurant, the Breton lobster does honour to its reputation. Is a lobster prepared better anywhere else in the world? This is also where you can meet Bertrand Jaquet, its owner, and also an art lover and genuine fan of Brittany. This place is the culmination of all of his passions. They might rub off on you… ...Read more
France, Billiers
Le Fort de l'Océan
Hotel and restaurant on the seafront
On the Croisic peninsula is a historical gem: for the past four centuries, this granite fort has stood guard over the moods of the sea. The ramparts, moats and drawbridges are all still there. Built to resist storms and attacks, today, despite its stern exterior, this monument welcomes guests, and exhibits all of its charms: oak panelling, scented gardens, a sheltered swimming pool… And a vegetable garden where the chef also grows the herbs that flavour his inventive cuisine that often includes fresh seafood. ...Read more
France, Le Croisic
