Guerande France

Day 42 Monday 15 June 2026

Today we drove 63km to Guerande to meet up with my cousin Patrick and Pierrette.

The area has an extensive salt marsh fed by a narrow inlet from the Atlantic Ocean at Le Croisic.

Generations of salters or paludiers, have shaped and managed the landscape here for almost 1500 years and in 1991, Guérande salt was awarded the prestigious Label Rouge. In winter and spring, the marshes are quiet as salters carry out maintenance ready for peak production season. The salters fill their reservoirs by opening sluice gates on the main canal to admit the strong spring tides. The water then runs into a series of shallow pools and eventually evaporates from the effect of wind and sun, causing the salt to crystallise.

Many are worked on by individuals who either have joined a cooperative or sell to the big companies.

We went for a walk in the medieval village. It is one of the few in France to have almost all of its ramparts preserved. Its majestic gates, watchtowers and cobbled streets tell the story of 8 centuries of history.

 There are half-timbered buildings and the historic streets are lined with many retail shops and restaurants.

The Fleur de Sel is skimmed from the top of the water and is more expensive from the other slat scraped up.

The Brittany stripes

We choose one for lunch. Mark and Pierrette had the local sardines, Patrick had a pork knuckle and I enjoyed the moules.

Tonight we have parked in a paid Camping-car Park at La Turballe. It was €5 to join then €15 for the night. It was very conveniently placed next door to where my cousin was staying. Luckily we arrived early enough to get a shady spot.

After returning to bluey from our outing, we had a dip in the Bay of Biscay. The water was lovely and refreshing.

Later we enjoyed a tasty meal together.