Ile de Noirmoutier
Ile de Noirmoutier is located off the west coast of France and has long been a summer playground. Stretching 20 km out into the Bay of Biscay, the island caters well for visitors, although tourism does not dominate. Salt marshes continue to be worked and there are still thriving farming and fishing communities. Photo by: Irish251
The island can be accessed by bridge but it’s more romantic to reach it via the Passage de Gois, a causeway passable only at low tides. The island town of Noirmoutier-en-l’Ile, located to the north east, is an unassuming place. It houses a 12th century castle, a church and an excellent market. Photo by: Alain Bachellier
In high summer the west coast is a magnet for sunbathers, with its long sandy beaches resembling those of the mainland. Inland, were it not for the presence of a system of Dutch polders and saltwater dykes. In the south of the island the winding roads take you through traditional villages of whitewashed cottages. Photo by: Irish251
Nowadays the island is a recreation, far removed from its monastic origins. The islands restaurants are plentiful and of high quality. There are eight sailing clubs and a well laid out cycling route. For younger tourists there is Sealand, a well-arranged aquarium and Oceanile, a swimming pool complex complete with water-slides and the lake. Photo by: nfegan
When to go: Spring to autumn – although a thriving mosquito population in the summer makes wearing insect repellent essential. Population: 10,000. Getting there: Across the bridge from Fromentine or via the Passage de Gois. Photo by: damzed
