Taillefer cape and Bunkers, Belle-ile

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24675 pts.

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This spot is almost only liste on the ExploGuide data base! Good job Fritz!
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North of Le Palais, this cape oriented toward the continent, has an abandoned semaphore and important military remains...

My experience, Explo description:

This promontory faces the Quiberon peninsula, commanding the strait between the continent and Belle-ile.

The panoramic view extends over a large part of the coasts of Morbihan, as well as islands of Groix, Houat and Hoedic.

This strategic position was exploited very early. A defensive structure was built in the 17th century, then redrafted several times, including the installation of a battery of artillery at the end of the 19th century. The last French modernisation dates back to 1930, but it fell into the hands of the Germans in 1940.

In 1882-83, coastal defence Committee undertook the construction of a battery of artillery. This battery should cross its fire range with the Ramonette battery, and therefore deny any access to Le Palais. It should also cross fire with Quiberon and therefore prohibit the strait between the mainland and the island. Built around a long fort, the undergrounds are still accessible. Main battery included 2 big 32c caliber cannons. 2 more batteries were also aligned to the South: a battery of 4 pieces of 95mm, and a battery of 4 cannons of 24 c. The second 4x95mm battery was oriented towards the Northeast. A munitions store was dug 15 metres deep in the rock.

In 1940 the Germans made of Taillefer the main defence point of Belle-île, adding 4 more big guns. Bordenéo Castle was the "commend shelter" for their artillery. They added few pillboxes and "Tobruk" bunkers around. These remnants of the Atlantik Wall are unfortunately partly covered with tags.

The Taillefer cape semaphore has been decommissioned since 2001.

By 20 m deep lies the wreck of the Hanan ship. It was a Dutch caboteur, with the German flag, sunk there by a squadron of English hunters in July 1944.

50 Metres north of the beach of Port Saint-Julien is one "hole blower" who works at high tide.

How getting there:

Accessible by road, 2.5 km north of Le Palais.

Taillefer is also located on the coastal trail that circles the island. 45 Minutes from the Citadelle Vauban by a very nice trail.

Useful information:

Open hours:

All day long.

Visit duration:

1 hour.

Entry fees:

Free.

Access security: