Etel is a lovely little town on the coast of Brittany, which is famous for its ria, a long inlet of seawater that forms a natural harbour. The ria has a strong tidal bore that creates a spectacular wave every day. The locals call it the Barre d’Etel and they love to surf on it or watch it from the shore.
One of the oddities of Etel is its museum, the museum of tuna! This tells the story of how Etel became one of the biggest tuna ports in Europe in the 20th century. Nowadays Etel is a relaxing place away from the tourist areas and cities that the French (and us Brits) come to escape.
We were camped on a hill overlooking Etel and the ria. Scattered around the surrounding sand dunes you can find remnants of the Atlantic Wall from WWII, from hidden pill boxes to gun emplacements. On the 7 May 1945 the ceasefire agreement was signed here in Etel, and a plaque on a restaurant in the marina marks the event.
