What a strange year 2020 has been. With the covid pandemic and the upcoming election, I have all the time in the world, yet I find myself unable to concentrate on anything for long. I haven't posted here since the end of August! We are in our seventh month of isolation; time passes silently, unmarked by distinguishing events. The hours, days and weeks all seem to blur. My social network is limited to a friend, my daughter and grandchildren. I don't shop in person, I don't eat out, I don't attend concerts or theatre. My travel is limited to videos that I view while walking on my treadmill: Portugal, North Africa, the Swiss Alps, Easter Island, Greece, England, Egypt, South Africa, Jordan....
In reality, I have scarcely left my house. We have gone to our island four, maybe five times, over the summer. Even the island is timeless...though, from the first photo, you can see that autumn has arrived.
To review, in August, I was writing about the forts designed by Sébastien Le Prestre Vauban in the 17th century. Though it has taken me this long to arrive, my original intention was to reach Belle Île, an island off the southern coast of Brittany, where one finds one of the most perfectly preserved of Vauban's star forts.
Here is what the Michelin Green Guide has to say about the Citadelle Vauban:
"Built in 1549, the citadel was enlarged by the Duke Gondi de Retz and Fouquet. Its double ramparts, powerful corner bastions and outward appearance show the influence of Vauban, who resided here in 1683, 1687 and 1689. Besieged at the end of the Seven Years' War, it fell into the hands of the English, who occupied it until the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1763. It was subsequently abandoned by the army and sold in 1960 to private owners."
The citadelle also served as a prison and was fortified by the Germans during World War 2. A
Here's what the Michelin Green Guide has to say about Belle Île itself:
"The largest of the Breton islands is a schist plateau measuring about 35 square miles. Its name alone is enticing, yet its beauty surpasses expectation. Valley's cut deeply into the high rocks forming beaches or harbours; wheat fields alternate with patches of gorse and whitewashed houses stand in lush fields."
Brittany tourism, an online resource, informs me that "The 'Beautiful Isle" is renowned for its temperate climate, magnificent coastline, 60 gorgeous beaches and opera festival." Belle Île has charming towns, fine coastlines and beaches, and wild life. It is supposed to be good for biking, hiking and, of course, water sports. The forests that once covered Belle Île have long since been chopped down; the interior now contains windswept fields.
I have wanted to visit Belle Île for about five years.