Noirmoutier and the Passage du Gois
Just an hour from your Les Brillas campsite in the Vendée, the island of Noirmoutier in the Pays de Loire attracts thousands of visitors every year, as it is a destination with a reputation that extends far beyond the west of France. Nicknamed the "island of mimosas", the Vendée island, which is linked by a bridge, enjoys a mild climate that encourages the development of Mediterranean-style fauna. This gives it special colours and scents, making this corner of the Vendée seem like a small paradise. Your campsite in Loire Atlantique is close to the Vendée, so book your pitch or mobile home at Les Brillas and set off to discover Noirmoutier.
Its landscape has many facets: wild sand dunes in the north of the island facing the tumultuous ocean, marshes offering changing colours throughout the day and the seasons, woods where the holm oaks offer majestic shade while the maritime pines bring you sweet scents.
The Noirmoutier castle dominates the lowlands, welcoming you with its austere silhouette, one of the few to have kept its architecture unchanged since the Middle Ages.
The island's charm also lies in its beautiful nineteenth-century villas, reminiscent of the splendour of the belle époque, when sea bathing attracted the crème de la crème of society. They are nestled in the heart of the Bois de la Chaize, where the estacade, a wooden pontoon from which boats used to set sail between Pornic and Noirmoutier, now welcomes fishing enthusiasts.
NOT TO BE MISSED IN NOIRMOUTIER
THE PORTS OF NOIRMOUTIER
The island also has three harbours, each with its own charm: the fishing harbour of L'herbaudière, with its boats spiked with multicoloured flags - Port Morin - the traditional harbour, which despite silting up still welcomes old sailing ships.
LE PASSAGE DU GOIS
Don't miss the opportunity to take a trip along the Gois, an extraordinary experience. This submersible road, founded by the monks, the first inhabitants of the island, is 7 km long and linked to the mainland. It's a popular spot for fishing on foot in summer, as the sea retreats far out to sea, making it ideal for clam digging, among other activities.
