Colin’s report June 2025
We had always wanted to visit the Morbihan and Vannes and this was the furthest point in our Southern Brittany trip in our Princess V50.
We loved Vannes and it was well worth the effort.
Vannes marina were very helpful and responded well to emails. They said not to come until the big Gulf may event had finished and they were also working on the pontoons, but we were welcome to come.
We left Ile aux Moines at 10:30 and arrived at the bridge at 11:30. First opening was at 11:00. We were requested to wait for an hour as lots of boats leaving. We tied up on far side of waiting pontoon and depth fine.
After 15 minutes, we were called through and followed a RIB all the way to our mooring outside of the Capitainerie. The channel is fairly narrow but quite simple. The pinch points being the bridge and the gate and another narrow section further up, but good width for our 4.08m beam boat. We met a couple of boats coming the other way. Boats coming out normally have priority.
The good news is they have built a tunnel under the channel which means the cars no longer use the bridge (it is closed to motor vehicles). So they are a lot more relaxed about leaving it open for long periods. The bridge opens when the gate opens. (it is a gate and not a lock as often reported).
The facilities are around the back of the Capitanierie and quite dated and 6 mens showers and only 2 toilets. Strange.
Marina office very helpful and told us about Plaisance Morbihan Premium. We are now signed up but apparently Etel, Crouesty and Ile aux Moines are all on the same scheme and should have done this so we could start to earn points, especially as we used our Passport Escale card to pay for our first port of call in the scheme which was Etel, and we showed our card in Crouesty and Ile aux Moines. Get enough points and you can get a free stay.
Even if you do not pay using your Passport Escales card, do give them your Passport Escales number and it all seems to be connected.
We caught the Petit Train after a nice crepe for lunch and had Sea Bass on board for tea.
Our guests joined us from Guernsey. They had come on the Brittany Ferries ferry to Saint Malo, caught the train to Rennes and then the Train to Vannes which took a further hour. The train stating was about 1km from the port and so a taxi is best if you have bags.
Things to do
Took our bikes to Ile de Conleau along the side of the canal, past the ferries and Kerino bridge.
Very nice, small village with great views.
Went to Maison de la Nature on the return journey which was nice, free but not large.
Looked at ferry options including a 2 centre Island trip visiting Ile aux Moines and Ile d’Arz?
Walked the city and ramparts. Guests joined us late afternoon from Guernsey and had a lovely meal at P’Tit Souris
We had good croissants from the blue boulangerie, 100m into the town.
There was an excellent, large and good quality market in Vannes. The best we have seen. This is complemented by the Halles building which was open with fish and vegetables etc.
We visted Auray. We got a taxi there (Euro 50 for 4 people) and a bus back. This is a lovely port and well worth a visit. I did look at visiting by boat but it was difficult to see if they could accomoodate us. Excellent food as well.
The return bus was confusing as the website showed the exact position of the bus stop but there were not signs saying it was a bus stop. We seemed to be in the right place though! Saint Anne looked interesting but the bus only passed through.
Leaving Vannes, the gate was due to open at 2pm. We were keen to be there on opening so we could leave immediately when the gate opened and not be held up by the boats coming in.
We left our pontoon at 1:50 to be there sharp at 2pm. We were overtaken on the way down by a marina RIB who opened the gate at 2pm. But he then had to go to the bridge and open that which took another 15 minutes.
Boats were waiting to come in, and boat leaving has priority, so if you are not there and waiting, you will meet them in the fairway which is not that wide, especially in F5 cross winds!
Our visits to Vannes are only done after careful study of the tide tables, Kerino road bridge open times and the lock gate times south of the marina. The channel up to Vannes starts to become narrow and marked with perches as well as fixed port and starboard markers after Port Anna. Once you head north up the dredged channel towards Vannes you are rewarded by a fantastic view of the city straight ahead. To port is Conleau, the base for the Morbihan ferry boats but also for a company who make ocean-going racing catamarans, which are often tied to the shore or are being assembled ashore.
Prior to construction of a new road underpass under the river a few years ago, arranging to have the road bridge closed was more difficult, but since the traffic using the Kerino road bridge is significantly less. Calling the Vannes Capitainerie (Ch. 9) at the advertised opening times slightly ahead of your arrival usually results in the bridge being remotely opened exposing an entry gap of only about 6m wide between the buttresses.
Further upstream there is a lock gate which is left open at the same time as the advertised Kerino Bridge opening times. Having a motor cruiser in this narrow channel can be challenging with rowers, kayakers and other boats all trying to share a 5m wide channel at the same time! The new Capitainerie is on the shs as you enter the marina. We have always found the harbour staff extremely helpful and friendly. Above the Capitainerie is an excellent restaurant with an extensive partially covered outside dining and drinking area overlooking the marina.
The walk into the historic old part of Vannes takes about 10 minutes, entering through a medieval stone archway, with a wide range of shops and regular street markets. A walk through the old part of this historic city is thoroughly rewarding with narrow streets, old buildings, the cathedral and part of the original city walls. A trip to Vannes is always the ‘icing on the cake,’ as part of a Morbihan cruise.
Nick Fletcher kindly provided the above report
Vannes is at the northern end of the Morbihan. Close to the town and within 20mins of the TGV railway station.
Main Vannes Marina website inc lock gate times – port-de-vannes.com/
Tides site – maree.info/107
The following site is really useful, linking to a number of marina sites which make up the Compagnie des Ports du Morbihan.
www.compagniedesportsdumorbihan.com/en/
www.passeportescales.com/fr/marina/5-van…
www.passeportescales.com/fr/port-vannes
After a pleasant sail on the Gulf of Morbihan, you will reach Vanne’s port. Access to the port is made by passing under the Kerino bridge. Open hours are available in the port guide that you can find on the town’s web site www.mairie-vannes.fr/ . You will find many services all year round, from lavatories to wifi connections.
Guide – www.pass-ports.com/fr/marina/5-vannes
www.france-voyage.com/cities-towns/vanne…
Information on accessing Vannes – www.passeportescales.com/fr/acces-vannes
Vannes marina is a tidal dock, kept at a minimum depth of 2.10 metres by a lock, that is open in accordance with the tides. Access to the marina is dependent on crossing Kérino bridge, built on a channel downstream from the lock.
Kérino bridge timetable
Information regarding opening times
Operation of the bridge during tidal dock opening times is as follows:
- From 15 June to 15 September as well as week-ends and public holidays throughout the year:
opening on request during the first and last half hour of the time slot. Opening every half hour in the interim period.
From 16 September to 14 June in the week:
- opening on request during the first and last half hour of the time slot. Opening every half hour in the interim period.
- The midday opening is brought forward by 10 min (11.50 am) except in July and August.
Contact information
Quai Bernard Moitessier PO
Box 509 56000 VANNES
Tel. 02 97 01 55 20
vannes@compagniedesportsdumorbihan.fr
Information on the Town of Vannes – en.mairie-vannes.fr/
Trip Advisor review of the Port – www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-…
Restaurants – see www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurants-g19653…
Videos
Market – The market, located at Place des Lices, in the morning on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Waiting areas – feedback has been provided that if the tide is not right – you can wait east of Arradon where there are plenty of vacant buoys to borrow, or Port Anna.
When you go into through the bridge up to Vannes, those coming out have priority.
Webcam
www.golfedumorbihan.bzh/explorer-vannes/…
Opening Times of foot bridge? – www.passerelle-vannes.fr/liste-horaires….
Useful blog – calypsocapers.co.uk/entering-the-morbiha…
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