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Pointe des Poulains cape, Sarah Bernhardt fort, Belle-ile, France Pointe des Poulains cape, Sarah Bernhardt fort, Belle-ile, France

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      Hum... More or less: you describe many different spots in the article: the island, the museum...
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At the North-West end of Belle-ile, the Pointe des Poulains cape is battered by waves and storms. It is a magical place made famous by Sarah Bernhardt.

My experience, Explo description: 

Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923) is a famous French actress. Seduced by the quantity and the savagery of the Poulains site, she buys in 1894 a Fort in ruins dating back to 1870, where the island is most the windy. Extremely independent as early as 1897, she had built for her family and friends 2 villas nearby: Lysiane villa for his friends, and villa of "les cinq parties du monde" (the five parts of the world) for her family, in memory of its international tours. She also bought a rocky island to rest there after his death, facing the ocean, but was buried in the Père-Lachaise cemetery in Paris...

The Poulains island.

Pointe des Poulains ends with a small island called l'Ile des Poulains, isolated by the sea at high tide. No colt has ever lived there... The name comes from a distortion of a Breton word which means "rocky spur". A lighthouse of 23 miles range is constructed in the center of the island. It emits a white glow every five seconds. You can make a tour of the island in less than 10 minutes: it is particularly impressive in rough weather. Attention to the tides! At high tide, for several hours, the Poulains island is cut from the earth, and we can no longer pass through. Therefore, be very careful if you should arrive at rising tide!

The fort of Sarah Bernhardt.

In total abandonment, the buildings have been redeemed by the Conservatoire du littoral which restored them. Now you can visit the fort where lived the actress, and the villa "des 5 parties du monde", which serves as an exhibition hall.

After the visit, be sure to take the coastal trail to the South. After a 400m easy walk, you will discover a fountain with an admirable plant decor. Sarah Bernhardt had to dig a pit for the watering of its plantations. She also brought frogs from the continent, in order to listen their croaking.

200m further on, you will discover a cement semicircle benches that Sarah Bernhardt had to install on a promontory to contemplate with her admirers court the show of furious elements...

My personal recommendations: 

Visit this place by big bad weather!

How getting there: 

Parking at 200 meters.

A tip to eat: 

No resources on the spot. Provide a picnic.

Useful information: 
Open hours: 

1 April to 30 September, daily from 10:30am to 17:30pm

Visit duration: 

1 hour to 1 hour 30 for Museum.
3 to 4 hours for the entire trip.

Entry fees: 

2 to 4 EUR

Contact: 

Museum Sarah Bernhardt
Pointe des poulains
56360 Belle-Ile-en-mer
tel: +33.2.97.31.61.29 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              +33.2.97.31.61.29      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Access security: 

Attention: at high tide, the crossing towards the Poulains island is impossible. Make arrangements to be back before!