This long beach of fine sand is an exceptional site in France with its ochre shades reminiscent of the color of gold.
Summer has finally arrived and it is time to get back to the beaches. Those that populate our French coasts are endowed with large expanses of blond sand or are nestled in confidential wild coves. However, there is a beach like no other in France. It has a geological curiosity that is unique in the world.
Two kilometres of fine sand stretch out at the foot of its majestic, orange-coloured cliffs, sometimes reaching 15 metres in height. Welcome to the Mine d’Or beach in Pénestin, in the south of Morbihan. This splendid beach with an evocative name was exploited as a gold mine in the 19th century, because iron and gold were found in its sedimentary rock cliffs dating back over a million years. Unique on the Atlantic coast, this very special beach delights families as well as geologists from France who come to admire the captivating spectacle at sunset: the cliff is then adorned with all the hues of the precious metal.
The Mine d’Or beach is ideal for swimming or walking, with good water quality and an extraordinary landscape. It is accessed by a marked path from the free car park where, not far away, a few restaurants await you and, if necessary, toilets. Those who prefer a walk along the seafront rather than swimming will notice the bouchots, these black piles covered with mussels at low tide.
The site attracts many paragliders every year who come to observe the orange cliffs from another point of view; it is also the only take-off site in the whole of Morbihan. In high season, those who take the customs path that starts from the Mine d’Or beach will find pretty, quieter coves to the south of the cliff. The path continues to the Pointe du Bile, where offshore, the islets are home to many species of seabirds such as the herring gull, the great cormorant, the oystercatchers and the terns. Get out your binoculars!