The island of Yeu is the most distant island from the mainland among the Ponant Islands. It has also the most inhabitants. With about 50 fishing boats, the island has preserved its maritime and fishing traditions. You’ll be awe-struck by the life there is in Port Joinville all year round. Enjoy the show by sitting at a café along the quays. Then, go rent a bike to discover the rest of the island. Many roads go through flowered villages with low whitewashed houses.
Sandy paths will lead you to the coast and will bring you through heath land strewn with dolmens, cupulae stones and other erected stones. East of Port Joinville, discover the long fine sandy beaches and south of the island, you’ll discover the wild coast, its steep cliffs and its grottos. Wild coast is a great name for this part of the island. The ruins of an old castle blends perfectly in an awe-inspiring and sinister landscape of rocks beaten by the sea. The jagged headlands hide some beautiful coves.
Getting There
All year round
Compagnie Yeu-Continent - BP 16 - Fromentine - 85550 La Barre De Monts
Tel. Fromentine : + 33 (0) 825 85 3000 - Tel. Ile d'Yeu : + 33 (0)2 51 58 36 66
Website : www.compagnie-yeu-continent.fr
Round trip fare 2008 : Adult : 30,90 € - child (12/-18 years old) : 21,30 € - child (4/-12 years old) : 16,20 € - child (0/-4 years old) : 4,60 € - Bicycle : 21,20 €.
Oya Hélicoptère - Rue Gabriel Guist'hau - 85350 île d'Yeu
Tel. + 33 (0)2 51 59 22 22 - Website : www.oya-vendee-helico.com
Single fare 2008 : adult : 88 € - child (2/-12 years old) : 66 €.
Seasonal
Compagnie Vendéenne - Place de la Douane - 85800 St-Gilles Croix de Vie
Website : www.compagnievendeenne.com
From Fromentine (April to September) - Tel. : + 33 (0)8 25 13 91 20
From Saint Gilles Croix de vie (April to September) - Tel. : + 33 (0)8 25 13 90 85
From Sables d’Olonne (July and August) - Tel. : + 33 (0)8 25 13 91 00
What to see
Port-Joinville
Capital of the island, with about 2000 permanent islanders here, Port Joinville is the heart of insular activities. It is also where the boats arrive from mainland. Behind busy quays, a belt of white houses extends up to the church Notre Dame du Port which rules over the capital. In the heart of Port-Joinville, a maze of alleys with suggestive names invites you to an idle stroll. At the harbour, colourful smacks and large fishing boats live together under the attentive and hungry eyes of gulls and seagulls. You can feel that this is the breath and the heart of the island.
Le Vieux
Château - The Old castle
One covers 3 centuries of the island’s history by looking into the life of this castle, built during the 14th century. It is Olivier De Clisson, cunning castle-builder, who built the castle in order to protect the islanders from foreign invasions. The longest invasion was lead by the famous English corsair Robert Knol. He seized the castle in 1355 and occupied the island for 37 years. The Old castle was destroyed by the king of France Louis 14th at the end of 17th century. It was classified as a Historical monument in 1890.
Le port de la
Meule - La Meule harbour
Natural marvel of the island, this tiny harbour, a kind of fjord stuck between 2 heath-covered cliffs, is a song of praise to beauty. In the beginning, it was only a vulnerable cove suffering from the south west storms which would sweep in with an extreme violence.
During the 19th century, a barrier brought peacefulness and security. Ruling over the harbour, a little white chapel dedicated to Notre Dame de Bonne Nouvelle, protectress of the seamen, stands challenging years and weather. Built during the 11th century, the chapel was an object of veneration. It is a place of pilgrimage for the islanders every Easter Monday and every august 15th, Assumption day.
Saint-Sauveur village
It is a beautiful little village. The streets are white, romantic and charming and invite you to idle. In the shade of old stone walls, fig trees, laurels and hollyhocks abounds. In the centre of the village, stands a roman church which for some parts date back to the 11th and 12th century. The church was classified as a Historical Monument in 1906 .
Mégaliths
There is a great density of prehistorical evidence on the island. One can find stones engraved with cupels, intaglios and basins…There are also very interesting dolmens, menhirs and cromlechs.
La Citadelle de Pierre
Levée – The Citadel of Pierre Levée
Built between 1858 and 1866, this fort is a quadrilateral, 125 meters side. There are bastions and a profound moat, 18 m. wide and 6.50 m. deep. It was built on a menhir. Thus, its name comes from this menhir: Pierre levee meaning erected stone. Its main and first function was to defend the island but the Citadel was also used as barracks and as a state prison. The Marechal Pétain was imprisoned there from 1945 to 1951. The Citadel is a classified monument since 1984.
Getting around
Bicycle rentals
Bi-Clown - Quai Vernier - Port-Joinville
- 85350 Ile d'Yeu
Tel : + 33 (0)2 51 58 70 77
La Roue Libre - Rue Calypso - Port-Joinville
- 85350 Ile d'Yeu
Tel : + 33 (0)2 51 59 20 70
Vélo Prom'nade - Quai de
la Mairie - Port-Joinville - 85350 - Ile d'Yeu
Tel. : + 33 (0)2 51 58 43 22
Véloya - Rue de la Chaume
- Port-Joinville - 85350 Ile d'Yeu
Tel. : + 33 (0)2 51 58 56 86
La Trotinette - Rue de la Chaume
- Port-Joinville - 85350 Ile d'Yeu
Tel. : + 33 (0)2 51 58 31 06
La Clinique du Vélo - Rue
Calypso - Port-Joinville - 85350 Ile d'Yeu
Tel. : + 33 (0)2 51 58 73 67
L'Auto-Bécane - Rue de la
Chaume - Port-Joinville - 85350 Ile d'Yeu
Tel. : + 33 (0)2 51 58 70 42
L'Escale ** Rue de la Croix du
Port, Port-Joinville - 85350 Ile d'Yeu
Tel. : + 33 (0)2 51 58 50 28
Le Grand Large ** Rue du Courseau,
Port-Joinville - 85350 Ile d'Yeu
Tel. : + 33 (0)2 51 58 36 77
Ansylade Hôtel 18 Rue Gabriel
Guist'hau, Port-Joinville - 85350 Ile d'Yeu
Tel. : + 33 (0)2 51 58 35 59
Camp site
Municipal camp site : Camping Municipal ** - 60, rue de
St-Etienne - Pointe Gilberge - 85350 Ile d'Yeu
Tel. : + 33 (0)2 51 58 34 20
Furnished flats – Bed and Breakfasts
Information at the Tourist Office - Rue du Marché - BP 701 -
85350 Ile d'Yeu.
Tel. (reception) : + 33 (0)2 51 58 32 58
- Tel. (accommodation service) : + 33 (0)2
51 58 46 47
Nature
Yeu is maybe better known for the vitality of its fishing fleet. But the island is also a treasure-trove of preserved nature, a combination of heath, woods, dunes and cliffs.
Practical addresses
Tourist Office : Office de tourisme - Rue du Marché
- BP 701 - 85350 ILE D'YEU
Tel. + 33 (0)2 51 58 32 58 - Fax : + 33 (0)2 51 58 40
48 - website : www.ile-yeu.fr
City Hall : Mairie - B.P. 714 - 85350 ILE D'YEU
Tel. + 33 (0)2 51 59 45 45 - Fax : + 33 (0)2 51 58 79
60
Getting There 
