DISCOVER THE ISLAND OF NOIRMOUTIER
Located in the Bay of Biscay in the Vendée, the island of Noirmoutier is known for its mild climate, which makes it a seaside destination to visit all year round. Salt marshes, forests, dunes and beaches make up its main landscapes, protected by 2 national nature reserves. The island is best known for its salt, harvested in the traditional way
for 1,500 years.
From the 4-star Noirmoutier campsite, you’ll be ideally placed to set off and explore this stunning island!
Although the site has been inhabited since the Lower Palaeolithic, the island’s eventful history really begins when the monk Saint Philibert settled here in 674 and founded a monastery. The island then belonged to the lords of La Garnache, who tried in vain to protect it from Viking invasions. Over the centuries, it suffered attacks from the English, Spanish and Dutch, as well as the devastation of the Hundred Years’ War in the 14th century and the invasion of Huguenot privateers in the 16th century. For a long time, it also played an important part in the tobacco industry. In the 17th century, dykes were built and the land was drained to create salt marshes and fields.
The island of Noirmoutier is linked to the mainland by a bridge, 30 minutes from Flower Camping Au Bois des Biches, and also by a tidal causeway, the Passage du Gois. Located 31 km from our campsite in Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez, it is the best way onto the island at low tide, and a little adventure in itself! Remember to check the tide times before you visit.
TOP 10 THINGS TO SEE AND DO ON THE ISLAND OF NOIRMOUTIER
The island of Noirmoutier is well worth a visit, and it’s best to set aside 2 days for it. Here are our top 10 sights and activities on the island of Noirmoutier.
- See the colourful fish at Sealand Aquarium.
- Step back in time in the medieval garden.
- Cycle around the island.
- Learn about the island’s maritime heritage at the maison des Écluses à Poissons.
- Discover the history of Noirmoutier at the musée des Traditions de l’Île.
- Visit Noirmoutier castle. Noirmoutier castle is a historic monument dating from the late 12th century. Still very well preserved, this medieval castle hosts an exhibition tracing its history from the 12th to the 19th century.
- Go fishing!
- Discover the work of the salt workers in the salt marshes.
- Take a stroll through the bois de la Chaise.
- Marvel at the Île aux Papillons. The Île aux Papillons is home to several hundred tropical butterflies from all over the world. Its greenhouse is kept at 26°C, so the butterflies can fly about freely. Visitors can admire some of the world’s most beautiful butterflies up close.
