Hiking trail no. 27 - In the land of seaweed

Located in the northern part of the Chenal du Four, this small Aber is an excellent stopover for yachtsmen on their way to southern Brittany or England. It's also a great base for day trips to Ouessant or the Molène archipelago on a semi-rigid
The port of Aber Ildut is a lively place, with seaweed harvesters arriving to drop off the seaweed harvested in the Iroise Sea, pleasure boats mooring at the port, and fishing trips by kayak or stand-up paddle... Kayak and bike hire at the harbour store.
The port of Lanildut has long since become the biggest seaweed unloading port on the mainland, with 40,000 to 45,000 tonnes of seaweed passing through every year, keeping the famous seaweed harvesters in business. To find out more, visit the Maison de l'Algue, where you can learn all about the history and development of this typical coastal activity.

The port of Lanildut saw intense traffic when the granite quarries of Aber-Ildut supplied Europe with quality stone, and local barges carried out a profitable coastal trade from the ports of the Atantic to those of the English Channel and North Sea. Granite blocks, as well as wheat, wine, sails and linen were commonly transported.
In times of war with England, all these goods were easy pickings for an enemy with numerous, intrepid vessels. From then on, defending the port of Lanildut became crucial.
It was under Louis XV, during the War of the Austrian Succession, that a battery was installed at the entrance to the port.

Patrimoine Iroise

From these once famous granite quarries, the base of the Concorde obelisk in Paris was extracted in 1836.

Located on the north bank of the Aber-Ildut, Manoir de Bel Air was built by Francois de Kerengar, on land he received on his marriage to Louise de Kerbescat in 1585. Construction lasted around 14 years, until 1599.
Built on a square plan around an enclosed courtyard, its architecture is typical of the fortified buildings of the Lower Middle Ages in Brittany. Its defensive layout is explained by its proximity to the sea, a source of danger.

Commune de Brélès

Overlooking the Aber Ildut estuary, the current church is part of an enclosure. It is a very sober structure, built in 1786.
© Patrimoine Iroise

This street is lined with the houses of the barge masters, all hidden behind their high walls. Most are topped by half-moon-shaped chimneys known as "English chimneys".