NatureGuide

The island unspoiled

Table of contentsThe Gois, the road that every islander cherishes

The littoral, the treasure that wraps itself around the island

The Fauna and Flora, the inestimable wealth to protect

The island's savours, the treasures jealously guarded

The island's doors

Passing by the windmills

Sea and marshes pathway

Hollyhocks

On Jacobsen's footsteps

Noirmoutier island offers an exceptional living environment. Its diverse landscapes are made up of small ecosystems sheltering varied fauna and flora.Using adapted behaviours and simple actions, let's contribute together to the reconciliation of human life and natural heritage protection.

TOURIST OFFICE

OF THE ISLAND

RUE DU POLDER – 85630 BARBÂTREOctober to March: Monday to Friday 9:30am – 12:30pm / 2pm – 5:30pmSaturday 9:30am – 12:30pm (closed during Christmas holidays)April, May, June, September: Monday to Saturday 9:30am – 12:30pm / 2pm – 6pm.July and August: every day 9:30am – 7pm

RUE DU GÉNÉRAL PASSAGA – 85330 NOIRMOUTIER-EN-L'ÎLEOctober to March: Monday to Saturday 9:30am – 12:30pm / 2pm – 5pm April, May, June, September: every day 9:30am – 12:30pm / 2pm – 6pmJuly and August: every day 9:30am – 7pm

tourisme@iledenoirmoutier.org +332 51 39 80 71

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THE GOIS, THE ROAD THAT EVERY ISLANDER

CHERISHES

THIS ROAD IS UNIQUE IN THE WORLD.This road is 4.2 km long and is bordered out by 9 beacons-shelters; it offers an unceasingly renewed spectacle. Invisible half of the time, this fragile link between Noirmoutier and the continent is also an extraordinary living place. Underwater or emerging from the waves, the Gois attracts as many birds looking for food and rest as shore fishermen and curious people enjoying Mother Nature's work.

Reading the tide schedule is essential on this wild place. Let's preserve together the resources by respecting the quantities and sizes of the shellfish picked up.

THE LITTORAL, THE TREASURE THAT

WRAPS ITSELF AROUND THE ISLAND

IT IS A MULTICOLOURED AND PROLIFIC COAST.Bordered by long fine sandy beaches or rocky coves, it often adorns itself with maritime pine trees or evergreen oaks. It always offers a sheltered place for bathers and enough wind to make the kites or windsurf boards fly. It is also a fragile environment whose richness are coveted, therefore it has to be protected.

Let's take the delineated pathways in order to limit the repercussions of the coming and goings on the beaches. The dunes' foot is fragile, please avoid placing your beach towels there.

THE FAUNA AND FLORA, THE INESTIMABLE

WEALTH TO PROTECT

THIS ISLAND IS A SHELTER FOR LIVING THINGS.Migrating or not, a lot of birds find board and lodging on the variety of the island's landscapes. In the most extreme environments such as beach tops and salt marshes, as well as in the most welcoming places like sheltered forests, lots of unexpected species live together. On the polder de Sébastopol for example, more than 900 animal and vegetable species have been censused.

In spring or in summer, the marshes are a privileged place for water birds reproduction. These species are very sensitive to disturbances, so please observe them remotely.

THE ISLAND'S SAVOURS, THE TREASURES

JEALOUSLY GUARDEDIT IS A DELICIOUS ABUNDANCE ISLAND.Gourmand expression of

Noirmoutier island's two faces, the star products stemming from its soil are its identity markers. Because they owe the sea as much as the land: for centuries, their cultivation has given rhythm to the island's life and has shaped the landscapes.

In your plate, fine fish (soles, line-caught sea basses, sea breams, red mullets…) stand alongside with the famous bonnotte, this unique potato with distinct taste… Work of the salt makers, the sun and the wind, salt gives to these treasures an additional natural and tasty impulse.

This space and production diversity is extremely fragile. Please respect man's work and private properties.

START BARBÂTRE

THE ISLAND'S DOORSYellow markings

Medium difficulty

1 STARTFrom the Tourist Office, go to the Polder de Sébastopol.

2 POLDER DE SÉBASTOPOL (0.7 km)A polder is a piece of land used for agricultural purposes gained on the sea thanks to dykes and draining. Registered as a Natural Regional Reserve since 2008, the polder de Sébastopol is a true shelter for a great number of animals, birds, insects and vegetables.

3 THE GOIS PASSAGE (1.6 km)Regularly flooded road of 4.150 km long, the Gois passage has the particularity of being covered with water at high tide and being uncovered at low tide. Its crossing is an exceptional event, so watch carefully the tide schedule before taking it. The word Gois comes from the patois “goiser”, which means walking by soaking your clogs…

4 BRIDGE AND BOTTLENECK(9.6 km)At the island's end, the Pointe de la Fosse makes you see in front of you Fromentine village and the bottleneck, narrow trickle of water at low tide, separating the island form the continent. The bridge is 583 m long and it was built in 1971.

5 FINISH (13.4 km)

START LA GUÉRINIÈRE

PASSING BY THE WINDMILLS

Yellow markings

Medium difficulty

1. STARTFrom the car park in front of the campsites, join the port du Bonhomme. 43-75 Rue des Moulins, 85680 La Guérinière

2. PORT DU BONHOMME (0.6 km)From the oyster farming port du Bonhomme, you will discover the oysters in a succession of oyster-beds which divide the sea into squares, and you will also get a glimpse of Noirmoutier port as well as the darker shape of the Bois de la Chaise and its beaches far away.

3. NOUVELLE BRILLE(1.9km)At your feet, the drained lands of La Nouvelle Brille and Le Bouclard serve as a base to oyster farming. If you want, you can taste a dozen of oysters on site or you can come back later to buy some.

4. SALT MARSHES(6.2 km)You are here at the heart of the salt marshes (operating in summer). Typical landscape of Noirmoutier island, they have been shaped by men throughout the centuries. They cover more than a third of the island's total surface area.

5. BOIS DES ÉLOUX – PÉ DE L'HERSE (10.9 km)Walk through the Bois des Éloux before joining the coast. In the pine forest and grey dunes spicy smell, you will recognise the sea stock and the shrubby everlasting. Climb to the Pé de l'Herse, the island's culminating point (22 m).

6. LA COUR WINDMILLS(14.6 KM)The four La Court windmills (19th century) overhang the sea and are located at the narrowest section of the island.

7. FINISH (15.1 km)

/!\ This itinerary includes crossings of potentially high traffic roads. Please be careful.

START L'ÉPINE

SEA AND MARSHES PATHWAY

Blue markings

Medium difficulty

/!\ This itinerary includes crossings of potentially high traffic roads. Please be careful.

1. START – PORT DE MORINFormer boat shelter, the port de Morin has become an artisanal fishing port and marina.

2. POINTE DU DEVIN (0.9 km)Sea defence infrastructure built in 1773.

3. MARAIS NEUF (2.2 km)At the Marais Neuf's stone bridge, follow the charrauds (earthen pathways) that snake into the salt marshes.

4. L'ÉPINE (8.2 km)Protected from the prevailing winds and the ocean's swell, the L'Épine village is made up of small streets bordered by low stone walls and hollyhocks. You can admire small low houses which dazzle us with their whiteness, all having their blue shutters tuned towards south.

5. FINISH (11.2 km)

START NOIRMOUTIER-EN-L'ÎLE

HOLLYHOCKSPurple markings

Easy

1. START-place de la prée au duc

2. SMALL STREETS MAZE Loose yourself in the small hidden streets of Noirmoutier-en-l'île and stroll at the heart of the city's history.

3. RUE DES SAULNIERSIt is so good to be on holidays, isn't it? Enjoy the marshes' calmness.

4. RUE DES COQUESObserve Müllembourg natural reserve fauna and flora. You can get a glimpse of Jacobsen Pier (Jetée Jacobsen) far away, an edifice built in 1812 in order to channel the port's entrance and to gain new agricultural lands.

5. BANZEAU NEIGHBOURHOODIt is one of the most ancient neighbourhood on the island. Its current area is covered by half by the ancient Saint-Philbert abbey, and the other half was gained on the sea during the 15th century.

6. PLACE D'ARMEScastle– churchBuilt in 1760, the place d'Armes was the theatre of important historical events. It is circled by private mansions. The castle stands in front of it. It was built in the 12th century and was used as a prison during Vendée Wars.

It now shelters a museum whose collections reflects Noirmoutier heritage since prehistory. The church, for its part, was built in the 11th century.

7. QUAI JEAN BART The port's quay is divided into two sections, separated by the places d'Armes: the quai Cassard, vessel captain, and the quai Jean Bart, descendant of Jacobsen family, both of them privateers at the end of the 17th century. Before leaving, enjoy the numerous shops in the city.

8. FINISH

START NOIRMOUTIER-EN-L'ÎLE

ON JACOBSEN'S FOOTSTEPS, A PATRIMONIAL WALK

Yellow markings

Easy

1. NOIRMOUTIER-EN-L'ÎLE PORT AND SALT TRADEAt the middle of the 17th century, Cornils Guislain Jacobsen succeeded to impose himself as a merchant and ship-owner by exporting the white gold all over the world.

2. LA PLACE D'ARMES AND ITS PRIVATE MANSIONSFacing Noirmoutier-en-l'île port, the Place d'Armes is a true frame for local history.

3. JACOBSEN PIER (JETÉE JACOBSEN)The pier allowed the creation of a huge draining area called the Petit and the Grand Müllembourg.

4. LE FORT LARRONJacobsen pier links a small island located at Noirmoutier-en-l'île fore-port, le Fort Larron. The small island is equipped with defence facilities from the 14th century.

5. LE BOIS DE LA CHAISE, A NATURAL HERITAGEThe evergreen oak trees have been there for more than 8,000 years old.

6. LE BOIS DE LA CHAISE, THE BEGINNINGS OF A SEASIDE RESORTThe “Société des bains de mer de Noirmoutier” (Noirmoutier sea baths society) was created in

1859. The society built the first constructions needed for the practise of sea bathing, the beach huts.

7. THE PLAGE DES DAMES LANDING STAGEThe landing stage, built in 1885, allowed the development of the seaside resort thanks to maritime links from the city of Pornic.

8. LE BOIS DE LA CHAISE AND ITS VILLASThe seaside architecture appeared little by little in the 1860's.

Discover Noirmoutier-en-l'île maritime and bathing heritage throughout Jacobsen family's mark. Eight boards illustrated by Antoine Bugeon are implanted along the walk path.