Vendée
Antoine's view
Crossing the Loire estuary, we left Brittany for the shores of Vendée, of Charentes.
Even if the island of Yeu attracts many artists and the summers are less peaceful than the remainder of the year, its geographical location saves it from the construction of a bridge, like those which connect the three larger islands in this part of France to the continent called Noirmoutier, Ré and Oléron: the three beautiful "Atlantiques", however have managed keep their individuality, even if one goes their by car, one still feels like being on an ?island?.
Noirmoutier, for me, makes me think of sweet straw berries, picked along le Bois de la Chaise and the mythical periodically flooded passage where people were stranded, taken by surprise by the tides of Glois before they built the bridge.
It was off the coast of Yeu that I experienced my first fearful sailing, a gale forced me into shelter after avoiding the reef of Chiens Perrin, in Port Joinville :
this is how I discovered this marvellous island where I often return to sample the excellent sole, "patagos", small seashells only to be found in this region.
Further down south during my novice days of sailing, that voluntary led me to ground on the dinghies and catemarans, on the magnificent Fiers d'Ars along the forest of Trousse Chemise, dear to Aznavour, or the reserve of orthinology on the Lilleau des Neiges.
Oléron, lies between the point of Chassiron and "le Pertuis de Maumusson", for me it is the immense beaches of the wild coast, but also the unforgettable colors of the oyster huts along the length of "le Chenal d'Ors, where the delicious oysters of Marenne -Oléron are cultivated, born in the waters of Coureau, which separates the island from the continent. Here one can see the impressive walls of Fort Boyard or Fort Chapus and the island of Aix, where Napoleon lived his last days of freedom. If you ask me which island I prefer in this region of Pertuis, I will tell you about the very small island of Madam, with spectacular sunsets over the fishing nets.
Finally further south again and less known, along the sandy coastline, are two remnants of sandbanks in the the bay of Arcachon called the l'Île aux oiseaux with its famous pile dwellings. Here they are called 'cabane tchanquées" and the sumptuous Banc d'Arguin with its chrystal clear waters at the foot of the Great Dune of Pyla.
Photos
Videos
Google Maps
My favorite links
Touris information office : www.vendee-tourisme.com
Discover Vendée : www.vendee.com
Useful addresses : www.vacances-en-vendee.com
For sailors : www.noonsite.com