Yeu island is one of the 15 Ponant islands stretching from the English Channel in the north to the Atlantic ocean in the south. Yeu island is located on the Atlantic coast of France, about 9 nautical miles from the Vendée coastline.

The island faces the towns of Notre-Dame-de-Monts and Saint-Jean-de-Monts on the mainland. Yeu island is part of the Ponant islands.

Yeu island is an elongated island stretching parallel to the coast for nearly 6.2 miles, with a width of over 2.5 miles at its widest point. The island has a total area of 5,683 acres of land.

As the arrival point for your crossing, Port Joinville is an active fishing port. The main species currently caught include sole, monkfish, sea bass, hake, and albacore tuna. Port Joinville was for a long time the leading tuna port on the Atlantic coast.

The citadel, or Fort de Pierre Levée, is located on the heights above Port Joinville and is open for free visits.

A Breton coast, rocky and wild, faces the open Atlantic ocean, while a Vendée coast, with its vast sandy beach, faces the mainland. Tumultuous on one side, the Atlantic waters are calm on the other. To the north, Pointe du But and to the south, Pointe des Corbeaux mark the island's extremities.

The rocky coast towers over the Atlantic ocean from its cliffs, with numerous headlands jutting into the sea, between which lie beautiful golden sandy coves.

Yeu island's Vendée coast stretches from Pointe des Corbeaux to Port Joinville in a vast fine sandy beach, protected by pine-wooded dunes.

Biking is the ideal way to explore the heritage, as well as the flora and fauna of Yeu island. Numerous bike rental shops are located near the port as soon as you arrive, ready to offer their services !

The cycling paths are well marked and allow you to explore the entire island while following the coastline. Be careful not to leave the designated trails in order to protect the island's fragile natural heritage. Don’t forget to ask your rental shop for a map of the bike trails before setting off !

The Old Castle, a medieval fortress, reflects the island's history and the many incursions it had to defend against.

To guide ships, the island has several lighthouses. At the southern tip of the island stands the Corbeaux lighthouse with its red flashes. To the north of the island, inland near the airfield, the Grand lighthouse or Petite Foule lighthouse, sends out white flashes visible up to 30 nautical miles.

Several maritime companies operate year-round from Fromentine or during the summer season from Saint-Gilles Croix de Vie, to cross to Port Joinville on Yeu island. Additionally, an airfield near the Grand lighthouse also provides a connection to the mainland by air.

The high-speed ferries offer a 30-minute crossing from Fromentine with an interior that strangely resembles an airplane cabin, so watch out for takeoff !