7 KM OF FINE SAND THE WARMEST WATER FOR SWIMMING ON THE ISLAND
When you arrive on Noirmoutier Island, the west coast unfolds before your eyes. The biggest beach on the island extends along 7 kilometres, straddling the villages of Barbâtre and La Guérinière.
SWIMMING AND INVIGORATING LONG WALKS
Flanked by a remarkable strip of dunes and a beautiful national forest, this large, 7 km long beach is conducive to invigorating long walks and to the joys of swimming and water sports. The preserved coastline has several access ways by car, but above all, multiple pedestrian paths. There is so much space that, even in the high season, you need only walk a few hundred metres to take advantage of the joys of the beach without feeling overcrowded.
The beach is made only of fine sand, sloping gently into the sea. This natural configuration makes the swimming here safer, with very little in the way of a current and gradually increasing depth. The temperature of the water is almost always higher (by about 3°C) than on the east coast of the island...
Wingfoil at Barbatre beach - Trendz
BEACHES IN BARBÂTRE AND LA GUÉRINIÈRE
Barbâtre
Run along the trip of dunes bordered by a forest of maritime pines. Whether you opt for the Plage des Boucholeurs, the Plage de l’Océan or the Plage du Midi, you will have 7 km of pure, invigorating air to refresh your body and mind! Those beaches are the perfect place for water sports, summer escapades and swimming.
La Guérinière
The beaches in La Guérinière boast an amazing view of the southern part of the island. Shaped like a cove, they showcase history and heritage through the mills on the Plage de la Court and the blockhouses of the Plage de la Cantine. A causeway runs alongside the Plage de la Cantine. At the base of the residence Notre-Dame de Bon Secours, the low tide reveals the fish locks.
all the beaches on noirmoutier island
A FANTASTIC PLAYING GROUND
Facing due west, the beach is buffeted by the dominant winds of the Atlantic Ocean. It makes for a fantastic playing ground for lovers of water-based activities. As soon as the wind picks up, fans of sailing, windsurfing, land yachting and kitesurfing flock to the best spots!
sailing school in Barbâtre - Hissez-haut
land yachting school - Sel ton char
kitesurfing school - Mouvn'kite
At low tide, on high tidal coefficient days, many amateur shrimpers armed with their nets meet on this beach to share a fun experience together. Enjoy a day of shellfish digging and discover all the best spots. But first, learn some tips and the basic rules for a sustainable catch.
Catamaran ©Trendz
“Help them to discover the sea and give them a taste for sailing "Introducing them to the sea and giving them a taste for sailing", – Luc, Sailing instructor
Up until the mid-1990s, you had to know how to swim before learning to sail. This sport was not very well developed. The philosophy of Luc, instructor and manager of the Barbâtre sailing school, is to introduce children to sailing from a very young age, so that they want to become expert sailors. "Depending on the weather conditions, the school offers catamaran, windsurfing and stand-up paddle lessons lasting around 3 hours, specially designed for children. Behind each activity, there is an educational aim, but the main objective is for the children to have fun in complete safety. The idea is to introduce them to the sea and give them a taste for sailing, but gently, without scaring them. The school wants to offer sailing lessons to as many children as possible, so we have preferential rates for them," explains sailing instructor Luc.
Barbâtre pine forest ©FDSF
HIKING SUGGESTION
On Noirmoutier Island, the forests are never far from the ocean, inviting you on beautiful and invigorating walks. In Barbâtre and La Guérinière, the scent of the maritime pines often intermingles with the smell of the sea spray. Barbâtre Forest, planted with large maritime pines, runs along the beach, combining a view of the sea with the pleasant aromas of undergrowth. Beyond La Guérinière, the Bois des Eloux wood also offers a place for a peaceful, restorative ramble. Growing out of the highest point on the island at an elevation of 23 metres, this small wood presents an uneven face of truly rolling dunes.
WEST COAST OF THE ISLAND IN PICTURES
