Island of Yeu

Ile du Ponant is located between Belle Ile en Mer and Ile de Ré, a landmass 10 km long and 4 km wide, 18 km from the Vendée coast. Ile d'Yeu is a place of landscapes and culture. Home to a population of 5,000, the island's insularity preserves it from the hustle and bustle of seasonal tourism on the Atlantic coast and adds a great deal of authenticity to its pace of life.
 

Arriving by boat affords an ideal view of Port Joinville, with its trawlers and numerous small fishing boats whose multicoloured pennants flap in the wind. Behind the quays, the narrow shopping streets invite you to take a stroll. After rounding the monument in Place de la Norvège, erected to commemorate the rescue in 1917, you can visit the Sea Rescue Museum and extend your visit with the Fishing Museum.

At your own pace, you'll discover the charms of the Ile d'Yeu, so different depending on the season. You can start your walk on the north-west coast of the island, heading for "La Pointe du But". You'll be amazed by the south coast, with its majestic cliffs and numerous coves.
 

As you continue your quest for nature along these paths running alongside the sea, you'll make your way down to "le Port de la Meule". Overlooked by the Chapelle Notre Dame de Bonne Nouvelle, this small fishing port is a natural shelter for sailors. Before reaching "La Pointe des Corbeaux", try to move "La Pierre tremblante" before taking a break at "La Plage des Soux" or "Des Vieilles" (over 20 beaches). Still enchanted by the charm of these natural landscapes (760 plants, including more than 20 species of extremely rare orchids, as well as more than 250 species of birds), you will continue your journey to reach "La Pointe des Corbeaux". As soon as you round it, the transition is surprising. We've just left the coastal landscapes of Brittany for a coastline with Vendée characteristics, with fine sandy beaches lined with maritime pines. This ecological feature adds a special richness to the environment. Let the scents of the woods and sunken lanes be your guide as you make your way to Port Joinville, not forgetting the diversions to the market town of Saint Sauveur. Once the capital of the Ile d'Yeu, this small village is typical of the area, with its narrow streets and Romanesque church.

Arriving in Port Joinville, after a refreshing drink on the terrace, you'll go in search of a few local products (tuna pâté, smoked tuna, prune tart) to take back with you a little of this island that has conquered you.

There are so many ways to discover the Ile d'Yeu, all you have to do is look around and fall in love.