Sarah Bernard Museum, Pointe des Poulains and Port of Sauzon

This hike will allow you to walk in the footsteps of Sarah Bernard and discover the famous Pointe des Poulains Lighthouse before visiting the small, typical port of Sauzon, accessible via the coastal path with its breathtaking scenery.

Details

280628
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.10 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 128 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 124 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 34 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park on the D25 near the hamlet of Deubord.

(S/E) Take the dirt track to the west opposite the hamlet and head towards the coast.

(1) At the cliffs, turn left (south-west) to the viewpoint located about a hundred metres away, the Puits de Baguen Hir.

(2) Retrace your steps. Follow the coastal path to the northeast and then north.

(3) At the crossroads, turn left for a return trip to the Sarah Bernard Museum.

(3) Join the road and follow it to the left.

(4) Follow the path towards the Phare des Poulains lighthouse, visible to the north-west. Walk around the Pointe des Poulains in either direction (the route is marked clockwise). Return to the access point used previously.

(4) Continue along the coastal path towards the south-east (GR®340). Stay on the coastal path until you reach the Petit Port de Sauzon. This is the most difficult part of the route as access to the coves involves numerous ascents and descents.

(5) Pass Pointe du Cardinal and head south to reach Sauzon.

(6) When you reach Sauzon Lighthouse, continue along the quay to reach the church.

(7) At Sauzon Church, go up Rue de Lieutenant Riou. At the stop sign, turn right onto Rue de l'Amiral Willaumez (D30) then take the second left onto Route de Borderie. Continue straight ahead until you reach a T-junction. Then turn right towards the hamlet of Bordery and immediately left. At the fork, take the left-hand road and head towards the hamlet of Deubord (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 30 m - Hamlet of Deubord
  2. 1 : km 0.72 - alt. 30 m - Crossroads
  3. 2 : km 0.82 - alt. 1 m - Baguen Hir Well
  4. 3 : km 2 - alt. 22 m - Crossroads
  5. 4 : km 2.38 - alt. 18 m - Access to the Phare des Poulains lighthouse
  6. 5 : km 7.21 - alt. 30 m - Pointe du Cardinal
  7. 6 : km 7.83 - alt. 11 m - Port of Sauzon
  8. 7 : km 8.31 - alt. 5 m - Sauzon Church
  9. S/E : km 10.1 - alt. 30 m - Hamlet of Deubord

Notes

In hot weather, bring a hat and water.

Worth a visit

Sarah Bernard Museum: For €4, you can visit the Sarah Bernard Museum and tour her house.
The Poulains Lighthouse is located at the north-western tip of Belle-Île-en-Mer on a rocky island cut off from the main island at high tide in the open sea.
(6) Visit the typical port of Sauzon. There are some excellent restaurants serving local dishes.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
lilou5410
lilou5410

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb route along the coastal path. Magnificent landscapes, discovery of the fort and Sarah Bernhard museum. The return trip inland is not particularly interesting, but you have to complete the loop!

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User 18654636

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very pleasant despite the August crowds

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lilou5410
lilou5410
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

All the walks on Belle Île en Mer are superb. A very beautiful route to Pointe des Poulains with exceptional views. The colour of the sea is somewhere between ultramarine blue and emerald green: it's magnificent. Pass by the fort and the Sarah Bernhardt museum. The route is popular but not overcrowded with hikers. Return inland along paths lined with hydrangea hedges. A superb walk that is not to be missed.

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emmaco11
emmaco11

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Wonderful walk, I loved it.

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Malyse56
Malyse56

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

All the walks on Belle-Île-en-Mer are magnificent! Walk along the coast and return through the small villages decorated with flowers for a guaranteed change of scenery. Don't forget to visit Sarah Bernard's charming house. Depending on the weather, the sea turns blue or green, and the small coves along the GR hiking trail are an invitation to take a dip. From south to north, east to west, Belle-Île is to be enjoyed without moderation!

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PP35
PP35

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Path crowded with tourists near Bernard Castle, but otherwise splendid scenery.

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lixy
lixy

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Superb walk along the coast on the north side of the island. We set off from Sauzon, but that was the only thing that changed about our starting point.

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mariefrancoise6
mariefrancoise6

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 30, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

but also a bit short possibility to follow the GR (interesting landscape and prettier than the east coast) to the Grand Phare after Donnant beach and get picked up by your hotelier or a taxi (in winter, otherwise blue buses in season)

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Magpieman
Magpieman

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A magnificent hike along the north coast of the island. We personally set off from Sauzon and hiked to L'Apoticairerie, then returned to Le Palais on the blue coaches.

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RPodor
RPodor

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very pleasant walk along the seafront, to which you should add time for breaks to swim, take photographs, etc.

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