The town of Quiberon

Bordering the ocean, the pretty little town of Quiberon, with its opulent seafront houses, is reputed to be the historic Breton stronghold of the sardine fishing and trade. In the 19th century, when Nicolas Appert made the revolutionary discovery of sterilising food by heat, known as "appertised canning", the town became France's leading sardine port and created a multitude of sardine factories in the Port-Maria district. Many families from all over Brittany moved to Quiberon to take advantage of this new industrial boom.

The town grew rich and organised around this activity: the men went fishing while the women worked in the canning factories. Quiberon's prosperity made it the seaside resort of choice for many 19th-century celebrities, including the writer Gustave Flaubert. Of all the canning factories that flourished in the fishing port, only La Belliloise and La Quiberonnaise remain, whose delightful tins with their traditional illustrations are sold all over the world.

Another historical anecdote: it was in Port-Haliguen in 1899 that Captain Dreyfus secretly returned from the Devil's Island to attend his trial.

This is undoubtedly the town's main attraction. With a panoramic view of the ocean and Belle-île-en-mer as far as the eye can see, the 900m-long Grande Plage de Quiberon lives up to its name. Facing due south and sheltered from the coastal winds, this superb stretch of fine sand (particularly beautiful at high tide!) is ideal for enjoying the pleasures of the beach in Quiberon. Accessible to all from the Promenade de la Plage, its children's club and friendly beach bar, Le Fisher, make it a popular spot for families (very busy in summer). In July and August, swimming is supervised from the lifeguard station and a half-day wheelchair hire service is available for people with reduced mobility.

With its pretty seaside boutiques and restaurants, the walk along the beach from Port-Maria to the Casino is also very pleasant, especially at the end of the day when the sun sets the ocean ablaze and wraps the sand in its golden light.

If you're looking for a warm, cosy afternoon tea in comfortable rattan armchairs overlooking the sea, head to Le Gulf Stream tearoom, which offers a wide range of teas, coffees and chocolates, as well as excellent pastries. Special mention should be made of the superb terrace overlooking the beach and the delicious salted butter caramel waffle! Le Gulf Stream is open Tuesday to Saturday from 2pm to 8.30pm.

Take a stroll around Port-Maria to admire the imposing green-and-white lighthouse, the delightful colourful fishing boats bobbing peacefully on the lapping waters and the coming and going of the ferries serving the islands of Houat, Hoëdic and Belle-île. Walk to the end of the main jetty for a wide view of the Grande Plage and Quiberon Bay. France's leading sardine port in the 1950s, Port Maria was home to no fewer than 13 canneries.

Today, the only survivors are the emblematic La Belliloise and La Quiberonnaise, whose shops, with their magnificent blue and yellow shop fronts respectively, are veritable Ali-Baba caves for fish lovers. Artisanal seaweed tartars, tuna flakes and a thousand and one tins of sardines and mackerel in a variety of flavours, from the most natural to the most exotic, you won't know where to turn! The tin of sardines "Thyme-lemon with Timut pepper" is a must-have. They make delicious gifts when you get home. Both canneries are committed to responsible fishing.

Opening hours of the La Quiberonnaise shop: 7 days a week from April to September, 9am-12pm and 2pm-6.30pm.

La Belliloise shop opening times: Monday to Friday: 9am-12pm and 2pm-6pm

To find out more about Quiberon know-how and the production of tinned fish, La Belliloise is offering free tours of its production workshops, from Monday to Friday, at 11am and 3pm. No booking necessary. Come along to the Quiberon Plein-Ouest shop (Zone d'Activités Plein Ouest 56170 Quiberon) 15 minutes before the start of the tour.

The pretty marina at Port-Haliguen is another of Quiberon's must-sees. Its lighthouse dating from 1856 and its stone quays give it a typically Breton charm that is irresistible. Two sculptures by German artist Karsten Klingbeil add cachet to the site: The fisherman sitting on his crate, looking towards the horizon, and the undine, ready to dive into the waters. Every summer, the Maison du phare exhibits works by artists from all over France, helping to make Port-Haliguen one of the most inspiring places in the world.