The Vivier-sur-Mer

Between mussel farming and heritage in the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel

Located in the heart of the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel, Le Vivier-sur-Mer is a Breton village renowned for its mussel farming tradition. The leading mussel production center in northern Brittany, it offers visitors the opportunity to taste the famous bouchot mussels in an authentic setting.

The Beau Rivage hotel is ideally located on the GR34 hiking trail for lovers of beautiful hikes who will appreciate the walks along the coastline offering superb panoramas of the wild landscapes of the bay, shaped by the tides and salt meadows. The Maison de la Baie, located a stone's throw from the hotel, offers exhibitions and guided hikes to discover the ecological and cultural richness of this exceptional environment.

Thanks to its privileged location, Le Vivier-sur-Mer is an ideal starting point for exploring the emblematic sites surrounding our hotel, while enjoying a peaceful and authentic atmosphere. Nearby, you can discover Mont-Dol; the historic town of Dol-de-Bretagne, with its cathedral and old houses, but also Cancale with its famous oysters; the Pointe du Grouin; Saint-Malo, Dinan, Dinard and of course Mont-Saint-Michel.

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Le Vivier/Mer, capital of mussel farming

In 1958, Charente mussel farmers, with a strong tradition, settled with their families in Le Vivier to develop the new activity.

There are currently 271 linear km of bouchots (fish ponds) that allow the production of 10,000 to 12,000 tons each year, or 1/6 of the national production. Around 300 people participate in the work and make a living from it.

AOC bouchot mussels:

The bouchot is the support for mussel farming. These are generally oak or chestnut stakes over 2 to 6 meters long, unbarked, half driven into the sand or sediment, and arranged in alignments of 50 to 100 meters in areas that are completely uncovered or not at low tide. A rope used to capture the spat is wrapped around the stakes.

The "Mustard Farming and Discovery" Bay House at Le Vivier will introduce you to the work of mussel farming through a permanent exhibition.

Hiking tours are organized to explore the Bay and its landscapes.

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Cancale

Cancale is located at the western end of Mont-Saint-Michel Bay, on the coast of Ille-et-Vilaine (Emerald Coast), fifteen kilometers east of Saint-Malo.

Cancale is a pretty port combining all the pleasures of the coast: walks along the coastal path, swimming, visits to malouinières (small houses), and gourmet shellfish dining in renowned restaurants.

Nearby is the Pointe du Grouin, where the panorama stretches from Cap Fréhel to Granville, with the Chausey Islands offshore. Opposite, the Isle of Landes, a bird sanctuary where you can admire cormorants, gulls, and other seabirds.

Along with shrimps and spider crabs, the oyster trade and tasting remain the preserve of Cancale.

A museum is entirely dedicated to them, allowing visitors to understand their different origins, their cultures, and to learn about their names.

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Mont-Saint-Michel

Mont-Saint-Michel is a French commune located in the Manche department and the Lower Normandy region. It takes its name from a rocky islet dedicated to Saint Michael, where the Mont Saint-Michel Abbey now stands. The hotel is located 26 km from Mont Saint-Michel.

The architecture of Mont-Saint-Michel and its bay make it the most visited tourist site in Normandy and the second most visited in France (after the Île-de-France region), with more than 3,000,000 visitors each year. href="https://www.lhotel-beaurivage.com/16-a-proximite/2%3C/a%3E%20(3%20250%20000%20en%2020 06%20).%20A%20statue%20of%20saint%20Michel%20placed%C3%A9e%20at%20summit%20of%20the%C3%A9glis The abbey church rises 170 meters above the shore. Listed as a historic monument in 1874, the site has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1979.

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