Ambon and its surroundings

Located at the entrance to the Rhuys peninsula, Ambon is rich in history. Its first trace of habitation dates back to 800,000 BC. Its privileged position is also the reason why it is the land of all conquests: Celtic, Druid, Roman, Saxon, Viking, Shuane, many of whose tracks we can still follow.

Its heyday took place during the Renaissance period when the village had some 5,000 inhabitants and an important port, the Pénerf, the fourth of Brittany, which the Compagnie des Indes coveted for some time. Today, this pretty little village typical of Morbihan and framed by the magnificent landscapes designed by the Pénerf, the ocean and the hand of man, is the starting point of beautiful hikes in the moors, salt meadows and steppes, deciduous forests, salt marshes. On the coast and along its beach of 4 km, you can fish on foot (clams, mussels, shrimps and oysters) and admire the cliffs that bathe in the Atlantic.

But before you set out to discover its surroundings, take time to visit the Church of Saint-Cyr-Sainte-Julitte, home to a magnificent stained-glass window. Its various architectural layers bear witness to the long history of its city. Then follow the route of the old railway that overlooks the poetic landscape of the salt marshes, the salt being extracted in these places since antiquity. Its exploitation has been completely shut down since 1930, but the marsh of Lasné in Saint-Armel which was rehabilitated in 2003, makes this an activity of discovery with the family. In Brouël, don’t miss the beautiful chapel lost in the greenery, especially its Gothic-style gable, whose remarkable decorations bear witness to the wealth of the commune in the 16th century, when the boats came to load goods including the precious salt.

On the way back to Ambon, take the other route along the coast, or taking the road, discover Damgan, then the adorable village of Larmor whose 18th century fishermen’s houses keep on their granite walls the traces of superstitions linked to the sea, with in its center, a traditional bread oven. The road ends at the port of the Pénerf, whose wharf proudly displays an 18th century cannon from the ship Le Juste, sunk during the Battle of the Cardinals in 1759. A trail leads to the tip of the Lenn, the Tower of the English, a fire tower (ancestor of the lighthouse), surveying the ocean from its height of 15 meters.

In summer, criss-cross the estuary and the surroundings of Ambon which are full of mansions, mills and lookouts… In the meantime, try the famous Pénerfines – the oysters of the peninsula which are so good they will make you want to meet these gardeners of the sea, who organize exciting tours of the oyster farms. To end on a sweet note, head to the Sunday market (in July and August) of Ambon to eat a bilig – thin and crunchy pancakes to be enjoyed with a glass of local cider from the Nicol cider factory (which you can visit in Surzur) (02 97 42 15 41).