Getaway in the Bay of Morlaix
Discover the Bay of Morlaix in a semi-rigid boat
Once again by semi-rigid, I'd like to invite you to discover a magnificent bay: that of Morlaix. This escapade, less intense than the previous one on mythical lighthouses, is organized by Vagabonds de la Baie. Under the guidance of Gwendal, our captain, we're off to discover the Bay of Morlaix, that holds no secrets for him.
Our first meeting will be at low tide with the seals in the waters of the seven islets. Visibly unperturbed by our presence, some are even playful, while others prefer to stay in the water, leaving only their heads above water to observe us.
We continue into the bird sanctuary where we can observe numerous species: great cormorants, shags, herring gulls, terns, oystercatchers, and many more. A delight for birdwatching enthusiasts!
We then go along the island Callot and its turquoise waters, accessible on foot only at low tide. For the budding Robinson Crusoés it is possible to stay there because the old school of the island has been renovated and transformed into a lodging.
We head towards Louët Island and its lighthouse. The construction of the lighthouse and the keeper's house was completed in 1859. The lighting of the lighthouse will take place in April 1860, in August 1909 a fire with 3 occultations will be installed and in 1962 it will finally be automated putting ending its keeper's duty.
In 2004, the town of Carantec, in agreement with the Lighthouses and Beacons Service, restored the accommodation, which is now available for rent to anyone who wants to become a lighthouse keeper for a night. In 2013, running water was brought to the island for the first time, and electricity is now supplied by photovoltaic panels.
We continue our journey towards Île Noire and its lighthouse of the same name. Planted on an isolated rocky islet, it takes the form of a whitewashed square tower fifteen metres high. Built in February 1879, it was occupied from 1845 to 1938, when it was automated by being fuelled by propane gas and then electrified in July 1973. It is inaccessible most of the time, except during high tides.
The building is said to have inspired the comic book author Hergé to write the seventh volume of his Adventures of Tintin, The Black Island.
We continue our journey towards the emblematic Château du Taureau.
Built on a rocky islet between 1690 and 1745 by the inhabitants of Morlaix to protect the town from English pillages, the castle was later restored and enlarged by Vauban at the request of Louis XIV. Originally a defensive site, it was successively transformed into a prison, a secondary residence, a sailing school... before being reborn from its ruins.
After the departure of the sailing school in 1980, the Château du Taureau was abandoned. The historic monument, left to the fury of the sea, was rapidly deteriorating. A restoration project launched by the "Château du Taureau - Baie de Morlaix" association began on May 26, 2000, and was completed after six years of work. The castle has now been restored to its former splendor, allowing visitors to explore all three levels of the building, from the casemates to the terrace, from the passageways to the drawbridge. Superb!
Our trip to the bay ends at the Térénez slipway. Thanks to Gwendal from Vagabonds de la Mer for this superb tour in Morlaix Bay. We took the opportunity to walk along the coastal path, this time from land, to take a few more shots of the bay.