Noirmoutier
6 ideas for outings in Noirmoutier
Visit Noirmoutier, a magnificent island with unique landscapes, offering a wide range of activities and nature walks to share with the whole family. You’ll discover authentic little fishing villages, atmospheric fishing ports with colorful vintage boats, and marinas with superb sailing boats. The island of Noirmoutier also boasts dozens of kilometers of bike paths that wind through salt marshes, pine and holm oak forests, the seaside and hamlets. From Barbatre to l’Herbaudière, via the mills of La Guérinière and Noirmoutier-en-l’île, it’s a family outing in the fresh air of the Vendée that’s just waiting for you! Noirmoutier is a rather special island in the Vendée, as it can be reached in 2 ways: via the bridge and via the submersible passage known as the Gois. Your Le Ragis campsite is located 35 km from one of the most beautiful islands on the Atlantic coast, so make the most of your family holiday in Vendée with a trip to Noirmoutier!
What to do in Noirmoutier
1. Passage du Gois
Accessible on foot or by car, this 4.5 km-long passage is a little unusual: it is submersible, meaning that it can only be used at low tide, i.e. twice a day over a 2 to 3 hour period. Check the tide tables before venturing out, and the markers along the road have saved many a careless tourist! The Gois is a meeting place for fishermen on foot for clams, cockles… It’s a must-see during your getaway to Noirmoutier.
2. Bois de la Chaise and the boom
The Bois de la chaise overlooks small sheltered beaches: Plage des Dames with its cabins, Plage des Sableaux and Anse Rouge. As you stroll along the coastal path, you’ll have the chance to admire the houses of the island’s notables, superb Second Empire-style stone mansions overlooking the sea. Children can play on the many paths in the woods or on the rocks on the beach. At the end of the walk, you can stop for a drink on the seafront terrace, opposite the estacade, an old pontoon recently restored.
3. Noirmoutier en l’île
The island’s tourist center, the town has retained its charm of yesteryear. Stroll along the pedestrian streets with their arts and crafts stores. You can also visit the Château de Noirmoutier and its keep, which houses various collections of objects from the Vendée region’s historical heritage. After passing through the Banzeau district, the oldest on the island with its narrow streets lined with hollyhocks, you’ll arrive at the old port to enjoy a delicious crêpe on a café terrace.
4. La Guérinière mills
With a superb view over the south of the island of Noirmoutier, the beach forms a cove with panoramic views. Fishing on the Sables d’Or beach.
5. Visit to salt marshes and oyster huts
Salt harvesting live! During free guided tours, organized by local producers, you’ll discover how salt is produced in Noirmoutier. Take the opportunity to sample special products such as samphire, a marsh plant with a taste similar to that of a gherkin, or fleur de sel, top-quality salt. Take the opportunity to stop off at an oyster shack to buy Noirmoutier oysters, famous for their unique taste.
6. Le Vieil
Le Vieil is a fishing village with narrow streets in the north of the island. A small, secluded village offering authenticity, calm and a change of scenery. Not to be missed.
A little advice from the Ragis:
In season, to get to the island, leave the campsite before 10 a.m. to avoid getting stuck at the entrance to the island. The Noirmoutier market is very large and fun to visit, on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
Small gift:
