Noirmoutier Island

Noirmoutier Island

25.05.23

Today we are going to Noirmoutier Island. The island is connected to the mainland by a bridge.

Noirmoutier Island is a French Atlantic island located in the Pays de la Loire region of Western France.

Most of its area lies below sea level. At low tide, you can reach the island on foot or by car via a cobblestone road called the Passage du Gois.

Warning signs indicate the times when it is passable. In addition, there are rescue or observation towers along the roadside at short intervals, from which you can view the area.

Also important is the salt production. In particular, the salt gardens have a long tradition, with the first ones being built by monks in the 7th and 8th centuries through drainage of the swamps. They now cover almost a third of the island.

We first drive to the northern end of the island to L'Herbaudiere, a small harbor town, and then to Noirmoutier en Ille, the main town on the island.

The Noirmoutier Abbey was founded in 674 and was a center of wine and salt trade.

In the 8th century, the island was plundered by the Vikings.

Noirmoutier is also known for potato cultivation. We are testing that by buying some chips and potatoes from the island.

This is how fishing is done here.

The variety of seafood and fish is overwhelming.

We end the evening at the beach. The weather is now to our liking 🌞