The Canneries

Step into the working-class Quiberon of the past! Before it became a seaside resort, Quiberon was a powerhouse of maritime industry. The sea wasn’t simply a backdrop here—it provided a livelihood for an entire community, thanks in large part to the invention of food preservation by Nicolas Appert in the 19th century.

Quiberon soon became France’s leading sardine port. A clear division of labor emerged: while the men braved the waves at sea, the women worked on shore in the town’s famous sardine canneries. As soon as the fish came off the boats, they were prepared and packed into cans by hand at remarkable speed before being shipped all across France.

By the 1930s, Quiberon had as many as 14 canneries in operation. Now there’s an idea for a vacation souvenir!