The island of Groix, or Enez Groe in Breton, lies off the south coast of Brittany, opposite the port of Lorient, about 4 miles from the mainland.

On arrival, you'll discover Port Tudy, one of the island's five harbors (the others being Port Lay - Port St Nicolas - Port de Locmaria and Port Melin, spread between the north and south coasts). Port Tudy is the island's anchorage point, the rhythm of the boat's arrivals and departures.

The second-largest island in Brittany, Groix is 8 km long and 3 km wide, and boasts some very special features.

On the one hand, you're quickly overwhelmed by its natural, wild landscapes that remind you of the immensity of the sky and the sea. The island of Groix is an endearing territory where the authenticity of the small villages of yesteryear blends with the infinite beauty of the coastline washed by the sea spray. Groix's geological wealth is of such interest that a nature reserve has been created, and its culinary heritage is vast and intimately linked to the island's rich history, which dates back to the days of the White Tuna canneries.

From 1863 to 1979, five canneries on the island of Groix produced some of the best canned White Tuna on the Atlantic coast: Conserverie Romieux, Jégo, Kersaho, Orvoën and Tristan-Calloch. For over a century, they participated in the island's tuna epic and made the Groisillons proud; the traditional rooster on the church steeple was even replaced by a...tuna!

It was truly a golden age, with up to 300 tuna boats moored at Port-Tudy and Port-Lay, the island's first port. As Albacore tuna could only be sold fresh to a limited extent, crews from Groisillon initially supplied existing canneries on the Atlantic coast. Then, in 1863, the arrival of the train in Lorient and the opening up of markets triggered a movement to build canneries on Groix. The factories, which initially processed sardines, provided work for several generations of young girls and sailors' wives, as well as for many families from the mainland.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Port-Tudy was France's leading tuna port, and the whole island was alive with tuna fishing. With over three hundred dundees and a fishing school, the island of Groix was particularly renowned for its tuna fishing, with a sizeable fleet and a reputation as one of the islands that fetched tuna furthest from the coast.

Le Biche is a tuna dundee from the island of Groix, built in 1934 in Les Sables d'Olonne for Groix skipper Ange Stéphan. He was nicknamed Ange Biche, hence the boat's name “Le Biche”. Many Groix tuna boats were built in Les Sables-d'Olonne, where shipyards built sturdy boats for summer tuna fishing and winter dredging.

Le Biche is Groix's last remaining tuna boat. Long restored, she can now be sailed for day or multi-day outings, depending on your wishes.

It marks a glorious period in tuna fishing and a strong history in the hearts of Groix sailors.

From its early years on the sea to the present day, the Biche embodies the tradition, courage and resilience of the sailors of Groix. So we're proud to help preserve its heritage through our commitment to social participation and solidarity in Le Biche's activities.