In winter Recharge your batteries whilst bundled up on a walk. Appreciate the peacefulness of deserted beaches and inhale the aromas of the blossoming mimosas.
After an autumn bathed in light comes a time of great calm on Noirmoutier Island. A special time to get back in touch with your emotions. To listen to the calls of the birds come to stay for the winter. To breathe in the scent of the ocean, now returned to its wilderness state. To gorge yourself on that light which filters, towards and against everything. To savour the hint of iodine in oysters from the open sea. To scratch at the foreshore with your hands. To set your emotions free during a short breather before the exuberance of Christmastime!
Noirmoutier Island decks itself out in the colours of winter, offering you a different season with different delights. The beach is all yours, with your caps pulled down over your ears, so treat yourself to an invigorating walk, recharge your batteries, take a break! Then give in to a snack of crêpes with salted butter caramel in front of a hot chimney fire. Christmas carols thrust the streets into the magic of the holidays, the shop windows are decorated, the scent of delicious mulled wine wafts towards you, and children’s voices fill the air... You will be delighted as you recall the joyous images of Christmas holidays!!! Scarves and gloves have replaced flip-flops and shorts, people sip on hot cocoa at sidewalk cafés, and you can enjoy not worrying about the time. The emphasis is on walking. You say hello to the people you pass. You may not know them, but you all share the pleasure of being here.
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DAY EXCURSION TO THE ISLAND
Visiting the island of Noirmoutier in one day is possible thanks to the two routes that we have prepared for you, impossible to miss the places and key sites of the island.
GO SEE THE FISHING BOATS AT L’HERBAUDIÈRE PORT
Engine noises, whistling rigging and slapping halyards: welcome to the port of L'Herbaudière! It was the first marina built in the Vendée, but is also a lively fishing port and a pleasant place for a stroll with its souvenir shops, bars and restaurants.
Savor oysters at Bonhomme Port
Dawn barely breaks before the slipway at Bonhomme Port begins to hum with the coming and going of tractors hauling flat-bottomed boats to the oyster farms just uncovered by the tide. Despite its unbeatable view of the town of Noirmoutier-en-l’Île, this miniature port on Bourgneuf Bay, would almost go unnoticed if it weren’t the island’s main oyster port.
STROLL THROUGH THE HISTORIC HEART OF NOIRMOUTIER
Want to find out more about the island's heritage? Head for the town centre of Noirmoutier-en-l'île to discover all that the destination has to offer. Shopping, culture, the seaside landscape, typical neighbourhoods and conviviality will reveal every detail of the island to you. And for a complete overview, follow the guide and discover this small town with character, which will be awarded the label in 2022 (Petites Cités de Caractère de France)!
VISIT LE VIEIL FISHING VILLAGE
Past the center of Noirmoutier-en-l’Île, far from the hustle and bustle, you will come across a series of hamlets: La Claire, Le Vieil, La Madeleine and then, after Notre-Dame de la Blanche Abbey, La Linière. Everywhere are small white houses with blue shutters facing the south to expose their gardens to the sun and fill the air with the scents of their seasonal flowers. Take advantage of the calm village of Le Vieil to enjoy a peaceful walk through its narrow streets lined with charming fishermen’s houses.
Have a relaxing break
Spas, beauty parlours, wellness therapists, somatologists, meditation workshops and more: put the expertise of the island’s professionals to use to help you decompress.
Sporting activities
Tennis courts, equestrian centres, aquarobics and swimming classes, archery, pétanque (bowls), rollerblading, gyms, bicycle hires and more.
DISCOVER THE MILLS OF LA GUÉRINIÈRE
As you come to Noirmoutier Island, you will be surprised by the impressive number of windmills here. The island’s mills are ballet masters, elegant and romantic. Flocks of seagulls often come to salute their strange cousins with a tip of the wing. The mills too would love to still be playing with the wind, but they have lost their “wings”. But they still provide a faithful reminder of their millers and that bygone era.
Romantic Noirmoutier Island
Noirmoutier Island welcomes lovers with its preserved scenery and its authenticity.
What to do with children on Noirmoutier Island?
Noirmoutier Island is bursting with hidden treasures which sea dogs young and old will enjoy discovering together. Let our activities suggestions inspire you.
