Enlarge Photo

Belle-en-Île has an unexpected high number of artists and craftspeople, so there is a vibrant arts scene with art and photo galleries, as well as a few museums. There are also lots of special events, including concerts in churches (check out Lyrique-en-Mer) and organized nature walks. In terms of museums, I like the Sarah Bernhardt Museum, as much for the contents as for the stunning location at La Pointe des Poulains. The Maison de Photo in Le Palais is an unexpectedly hip photo gallery.

The Tourist Office (www.belle-ile.com), located two steps from the ferry dock, is extremely well-organized, with maps and lists of painters, photographers, ceramicists etc., including contact information. Most local artists work in their homes, so the added plus is the personal aspect, as you can just call them up. I particularly enjoyed visiting Jean Guillaume (33-6-81-18-46-88) and his “bateaux-moules” (little boats whose bodies are made out of mussel shells); the whimsical ceramics of Anne-Marie Canu (33-6-76-60-27-89) and Fluid, a factory and showroom that produces highly sophisticated, hand-blown glass (www.fluid.coop).

Enlarge Photo

Artisanal products abound, from chocolate at La Palantine (www.lapalantine.com) to whiskey at Kaerilis (www.kaeriliswhisky.com). A fascinating organization is Cosmétile (www.cosmetile.fr), an organic “aromatic” farm. The daily morning market in Le Palais—as markets always do—tells the story of this special place.

Enlarge Photo

There’s a plethora of activities, including swimming (don’t miss the Plage du Donnant, the Plage des Grands Sables) and boating (a tour around the island by boat is a must). You can also bike around the island or ride horses along the water’s edge.