When you go to the culinary spots of gastronomic France you might have heard the word Belon..if you are into seafood..if you are especially into oysters! Well the Belon flat oyster that conquered the world was from here, the original. After much desease dissimanated the ponds ,again a group of ostriculture folks came back in the 1980’s to start all over again, and they are here !!! This is the best spot to taste and see their harvesting, This is Riec sur Belon in the Finistére dept 29 of my lovely Bretagne and belle France,
I like to start with the post on the harvest of the Belon oyster, The area is large for oysters here but for the flat oyster it is at Riec Sur Belon. A quiet town but a much better port, because it is by the Port du Belon (see post) where you find the harvesters. Therefore, have to tell past on the teaching on the history, texture and goodness of this oyster only in Brittany to the World !!
French oyster farming is generally based on two types of oysters, including flat oysters (Belon oysters) and hollow oysters. Belon oysters are considered one of the rarest of all oysters. Consumed very long ago (since antiquity) by the Gallo-Romans, the flat oyster or Belon oyster is of European origin. Its breeding was well known by the Romans who would have imported it exclusively from France. The victim of two Epizootics, those of the 1920’s and 1980’s , she began to regain her production lately thanks to traditional oyster farmers who insisted on their survival for our enjoyment. In addition, the Belon appellation came from a Breton river (Belon) which gave its nomination to flat oysters. Indeed, the Belon oyster is cultivated mainly in Brittany.
The Belon oyster is an oyster with a rounded shape with a firm flesh of white color. In this case, it is sometimes nutted with brown or grey colors. It can be eaten rather raw, rather hot, and is best known for its unique and distinctive hazelnut flavour. Unlike the hollow oyster, it systematically changes sex following each fertilization. The move of the Belon oyster must be done with caution! Unlike hollow oysters, the flat oysters or Belon oysters rather prefer calm, gentle and deeper waters. As a result, it is favorable to cultivate them in rivers or deep areas, beyond 16 meters, in the absence of any abundant of flora oxygenated by strong currents. Cultivated most often in a natural mixture of seawater and fresh water, the oyster of Belon allows you to enjoy the taste of hazelnut at length.
Beyond its iodized taste similar to all oysters, the Belon oyster is particularly distinguished from others thanks to its more consistent flesh and also to its slight harshness. As a result, the Belon oysters are highly appreciated by countless gourmets all over the world. In addition, it is also rich in oligo elements indispensable for the human body, including protein, carbohydrate, lipid, magnesium, etc. That said, to use it, you can use it either on a bed of ice or by accompanying it with a lemon zest. And it helps with a nice cold Muscadet Maine et Sévre sur lie of the Nantais area of old Brittany!
Riec-sur-Bélon is in the old Cornouaille. Belon is the name of a river that the ancients called “Beln “. Its territory is bounded by the Aven river to the west and the Belon river to the east, two small coastal rivers whose valleys partially invaded by the sea form two rias that meet at the southern end of the town at the pointe de Penquernéo. The neighboring towns are Moëlan-sur-Mer in the east that separates the Belon river, Nevez and Pont-Aven to the west, which separates in part the Aven river, Bannalec and the Le Trévouxau in the north, and Baye in the northeast. The town is located at 12 km west of Quimperlé, 17 km east of Concarneau, 27 km west of Lorient and 35 km east of Quimper. And 60 km (38 mi ) from my house !
In 1533, Charles de Guer, son and heir of Yvon de Guer ,Lord of the Porte Neuve bought the barony of Riec, distinct from the lordship of the Porte Neuve, to Antoine Montbourcher, Lord of Plessis-Bordage and échanson of Duke François I. At the end of the 19C, Riec took its definitive configuration and became Riec sur Belon in 1898.
The town of Riec sur Belon on its history : https://www.riecsurbelon.bzh/la-ville-de-riec-sur-b%C3%A9lon?lang=en
The Quimperle terre oceane tourist office on main feature of the Belon oyster: http://:https://www.quimperle-terreoceane.com/en/discover/gastronomy/the-belon-oyster/
The Bretagne/Brittany region tourist office on Riec sur Belon http://:https://www.brittanytourism.com/destinations/the-10-destinations/quimper-cornouaille/riec-sur-belon/
There you go folks, a town to be revisited again and again by the coast, the beaches, the oysters !!! And we go chasing them often here, care for a get together ! Find me here at Riec sur Belon !! Again, hope you enjoy the post as I
And remember, happy travels, good health ,and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 