La Barre-de-Monts and Fromentine are part of the “Marais Breton, baie de Bourgneuf, île de Noirmoutier et forêt de Monts” Natura 2000 area. You can focus your stay in a variety of ways: birdwatching, a museum visit, walking trails or activities on the water. The specific trails and activities provide some guidance to help you decide what to include in your travel plans.
Natural landscape and birdlife
More than 96 migratory and breeding bird species have been recorded in La Barre-de-Monts. This number may change as future ecological surveys are carried out. The bird population is a tangible natural feature of the area, without requiring you to plan for a particular sighting. According to its name, the Natura 2000 area includes the Marais Breton, the Bay of Bourgneuf, Noirmoutier Island and the Monts Forest. The destination is therefore defined both by the municipality’s birdlife and by a protected area whose name encompasses several different landscapes.
Le Daviaud: museum and natural area
Le Daviaud is a Musée de France in La Barre-de-Monts. The museum offers a one-kilometre visitor trail through a six-hectare natural area. The offerings also include interactive exhibitions, distinctive architecture, accounts from local residents and multimedia presentations. The museum visit thus brings together different subjects and ways of presenting them: the trail through the natural area, the exhibitions and residents’ accounts.
Visitor workshops on making butter are another part of the programme. As workshops are offered and their schedules should be checked before your visit, it is advisable to confirm the current dates in advance. This allows you to plan your visit around the museum’s offerings without assuming a particular workshop time.
Trails, views and activities
The Sentier des Ostréiculteurs is a 3.8-kilometre walking trail that starts at the Fromentine lighthouse. Le Daviaud’s visitor trail is much shorter, at one kilometre. These trail lengths make it easy to compare the museum trail with the walking route when deciding between different distances for your trip.
Numerous walking, cycling, trail-running and Nordic walking routes intersect at Pey de la Blet. From there, you can enjoy an unobstructed 360-degree view of the surrounding natural landscape. As route connections may change, check the latest trail information locally. You can therefore consider the view a destination in its own right, while the crossing of trails brings together different ways of exploring the area.
Oysters, water sports and connections from Fromentine
Around fifteen oyster farmers grow oysters along the Chemin des Ostréiculteurs. Tours of the businesses and tastings are offered at various times of the year. Check the dates and which businesses are taking part before your visit; the activities are not restricted to a single set period.
At Fromentine’s supervised beach, the École Municipale de Voile launches catamarans and kayaks into the sea. This is a separate way to enjoy the water, alongside the walking trails and visits to oyster farms. If your plans include a connection from Fromentine, the available services vary by operator and season: Yeu Continent operates year-round, although timetables depend on the tides and season. Compagnie Vendéenne operates seasonal services from April to November. Check timetables and seasonal information before travelling, before including these services in your plans.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Fulgent, Angles, Saint-Maixent-Sur-Vie, Breuil-Barret, Les Epesses, Saint-Christophe-Du-Ligneron, Moreilles, Les Lucs-Sur-Boulogne.
For the broader travel overview: Vendée.
