The Oysters of the Auray River

The Auray River didn’t just carry ships and cargo. For centuries, it also helped feed local communities with its native flat oysters. You may be thinking, aren’t all oysters flat?

Well, not quite! Take a look at the oysters from the Auray River and you’ll see they’re very different from the cupped oysters most commonly found today. Their shells are rounder, almost circular, and much flatter.

In the past, fishermen harvested them directly from natural oyster beds using a dredge pulled behind their boats. This type of fishing was tightly regulated and continued until the middle of the 20th century. The oysters were then placed in oyster beds along the river or sold to other oyster farmers.

Some were sent to Pénerf or to the famous Bélon River, where they would finish growing. They spent time in waters especially well suited to oyster farming, allowing them to become plumper and develop their flavor before being sold. So if a dozen oysters catches your eye during the walk, remember that here they’re more than just a local delicacy.

They’re also a small taste of Auray’s maritime history.