Belz: Trails and maritime heritage on the Ria d’Étel

The Ria d’Étel borders Belz to the north and west. It is also an area of oyster farming and shellfish gathering at low tide; the landscape and local activities are closely intertwined here. The Pont Lorois is also an important geographical landmark: the bridge is the only crossing between the two banks of the ria and between Auray and Lorient. In Belz, you will therefore encounter both a distinctive waterscape and an important crossing between the banks.

Hiking with views of the landscape and culture

The Pointe de Larmor walking trail from Port Niscop is an easy, yellow-marked, five-kilometre circuit. The stated duration is one hour and thirty minutes. It is accessible year-round; as access conditions can change, check them before your outing. The trail runs along the Rivière d’Étel and then the banks of the Sac’h, a tributary and arm of the sea off the Ria d’Étel.

At Pointe du Perche, there is a panoramic view, an orientation board and opportunities for birdwatching. Le Tro-Belz runs along the ria and through woodland and heathland; dolmens and chapels line the route. The Etré Douar ha Mor circuit, whose name means “between land and sea,” focuses on the famous village of Saint-Cado, the Ria d’Étel and the megalithic sites.

If you are choosing a circuit based on duration and distance, Pointe de Larmor is clearly defined as five kilometres and one hour and thirty minutes. Le Tro-Belz highlights the landscape and megalithic heritage, while Etré Douar ha Mor brings together Saint-Cado, the ria and megalithic sites as its main themes. The three routes thus differ in the landmarks described for each.

Saint-Cado and its chapel

Saint-Cado is an island hamlet belonging to the municipality of Belz, connected to the mainland by a stone bridge. Saint-Cado offers a beautiful viewpoint over the Ria d’Étel. The Chapel of Saint-Cado is Romanesque and has a 16th-century portal. It is open to the public every day. As access conditions can change, check the latest access information before your visit.

Maritime heritage and megaliths

The Grotte de Port-Niscop is an oratory dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes. Sailors built it for their companions who died at sea. The Dolmen du Moulin des Oies is a Neolithic passage tomb with a circular burial chamber and a narrow entrance passage. Today, it is surrounded by seawater flowing into the Ria d’Étel. Its location illustrates the rise in sea level since the Neolithic period. The oratory commemorates sailors who died at sea, while the dolmen recalls prehistoric burial practices.

Discover more destinations: Ploemel, Sulniac, Guéhenno, Plouay, Pluneret, Locmiquelic, Ploemeur, Riantec

For the broader travel guide: Morbihan.