Noirmoutier – history with a pinch of salt?

Here’s a good pub quiz question: can you connect a 7th century founder of monasteries with a popular nut and cocoa spread? Read on. The answer will come at the end.

The monastery builder was St. Philibert. You may see his stone sarcophagus in the abbey in a town named after him: St. Philbert de Grand Lieu, in west central France. It weighs two tonnes. According to legend, monks carried it there from his initial resting place on the island of Noirmoutier, off the coast of the Vendée, when looting Norse raiders threatened to pilfer his relics.

Passage de Gois Since this was a journey of some 35 miles and involved a sea crossing, you must take the story with a pinch of salt. There’s plenty of that on Noirmoutier.

There’s no indication that the Passage de Gois existed in 836, when the monks fled. In any case they could hardly have got the sarcophagus across between the daily ebb and flow of tides. Today the causeway, first mentioned on a map in 1701, is one of Noirmoutier’s unmissable sights. It’s 2.58 miles long. It hosts an annual running race. The Tour de France has crossed it. On either side at low tide, locals venture onto the expanse of mud in search of shellfish. At either end is a dire warning of what can happen when the tide comes in.

Noirmoutier is now linked to what locals call “le continent” by a bridge. It’s a charming place, best seen by rented pushbike or on foot: single storey cottages with red roof, the odd fin de siècle mansion in the trees, the inevitable supermarkets but no glaring high rise horrors. The sandy beaches are extensive and – while I have no first hand experience of the French summer peak there – relatively uncrowded. In early July the Atlantic  was warm. It appeared cleaner and calmer on the north side of the island.

The causeway warning sign We walked along that shore, sometimes barefoot, to he 1.5km long Jacobsen jetty built some 200 years ago as a towpath from which boats might be hauled against the wind into the town harbour of Noirmoutier en I’Île. Today it’s open only to cyclists and walkers. It protects a wetland reserve, where avocets and redshanks strutted, and shelducks gathered in abundance. The town has a pleasant, pedestrian only area, with a good selection of restaurants and shops.

In La Guérinière there’s the marvelous Museum of Traditions, founded to “safeguard the last vestiges” of an insular existence now overtaken by modernity. Its fascinating collection includes furniture, tableware and clothes, a horse drawn hearse that functioned until 1970 – and provides a detailed explanation of the way salt is collected.  

Salt pans Sea salt is major industry, originally crucial to the preservation of food and now given second wind but tourism and demand for natural food. A significant area of the island is occupied by the small rectangular drying pans, known as oeillets, signaled from a distance by conical white salt piles. We buy five kilos from a kiosk by a roundabout – for less than £4.

Bonnottes – potatoes much prized by chefs – are another source of income. Their flavour has been hymned in the manner of a fine wine, with praises heaped on their hints of lemon and walnut and their long, salty finish. They were long reputed to be  the world’s most expensive, partly because they were grown in such a limited area and partly because they are harvested by hand. But recently they have been grown in similar conditions in Jersey and at least one UK supermarket chain has offered them at bargain prices.

Noirmoutier beach Our hotel was Les Prateaux, on the seaward edge of the town. A gate from the grounds – secured by code – opened on to woodland a short walk from two beaches and a few pleasant bars and eateries overlooking the sea. Our room was large and airy, with a balcony above the hotel garden. The restaurant was sufficient that we weren’t tempted, during a short stay, to eat out: good fresh John Dory and halibut and, on one evening, a memorable lobster carpaccio. There was also an extraordinary dessert incorporating asparagus and potatoes – both whipped into a mousse (I’m unsure whether the latter were bonnottes) and served with grapefruit and chocolate. If the waiter’s description raised our eyebrows the fact that it worked was even more surprising.

Hazelnut chocolate would make a suitable dessert on Noirmoutier. Filbert, an alternative English name for the nut in Nutella, is believed to derive from Philibert, the much travelled saint who pitched up there. Why? Philibert’s feast day is on August 20 – the date by which filberts are supposed to ripen. Obscure connections: they’re among the joys of travel.

More information

Roger Bray travelled on P&O Ferries’ Dover-Calais service. The drive to Noirmoutier en I’Île takes around 6 – 7hrs. We broke the journey with an overnight stay near Sées in Normandy. Three nights at the Hotel Les Prateaux – with meals and wine, cost €588 – or about £420 are the current exchange rate.


221 people found this helpful
18022

Share Article:

Roger Bray

Travel writer

Leave a comment

*

Sign up to our newsletter to receive the latest travel tips on top destinations.

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Most Recent Articles

There’s something refreshingly nostalgic about the quintessential British coach holiday….

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.