Île d'Yeu
Encyclopedia
Île d'Yeu is an island
and commune just off the Vendée
coast of western France
.
The island's two harbours, Port-Joinville in the north and Port de la Meule, located in a rocky inlet of the southern granite coast, are famous for the fishing of tuna
and lobster.
Neolithic
markings in the native stone and an unusual concentration of megalithic dolmen
s and menhir
s attest to the island's early sanctity. Whether or not its inhabitants were evangelised at the beginning of the fourth century by Martin of Vertou and Saint Hilaire, Irish monks from Bangor
dedicated their monastery on the Île d'Yeu to Hilaire; Saint Amand
, from Poitou received early training there, but it was destroyed by Viking
raiders in the ninth century.
During the tenth century, monks from Marmoutier
near Tours and monks of Saint-Cyprien at Poitiers built a new monastery and dedicated it to Saint Stephen
. The castle built on an islet linked to the coast by a bridge is first mentioned in 1356.
Since the nineteenth century Île d'Yeu has attracted many artists, such as Jean Rigaud
(1912–1999), official painter to the French Navy
, who had a house there, and his friend Maurice Boitel
(1919–2007)
The island's seaweeds have been the subject of studies by the French marine biologist Françoise Ardré
.
Administratively, the commune
of L'Île-d'Yeu (with that spelling) forms part of the Vendée
department and the Pays de la Loire
region
of France.
The island is reached by ferry from Fromentine or Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie
. Air transportation is available at Île d'Yeu Aerodrome
, with commercial service from Nantes Airport.
régime, Philippe Pétain
, died in prison on the island in 1951 and is buried there.
The poet Marc-Adolphe Guégan
, an early French exponent of Haiku
, lived on the island until his death in 1959.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
and commune just off the Vendée
Vendée
The Vendée is a department in the Pays-de-la-Loire region in west central France, on the Atlantic Ocean. The name Vendée is taken from the Vendée river which runs through the south-eastern part of the department.-History:...
coast of western France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
The island's two harbours, Port-Joinville in the north and Port de la Meule, located in a rocky inlet of the southern granite coast, are famous for the fishing of tuna
Tuna
Tuna is a salt water fish from the family Scombridae, mostly in the genus Thunnus. Tuna are fast swimmers, and some species are capable of speeds of . Unlike most fish, which have white flesh, the muscle tissue of tuna ranges from pink to dark red. The red coloration derives from myoglobin, an...
and lobster.
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
markings in the native stone and an unusual concentration of megalithic dolmen
Dolmen
A dolmen—also known as a portal tomb, portal grave, dolmain , cromlech , anta , Hünengrab/Hünenbett , Adamra , Ispun , Hunebed , dös , goindol or quoit—is a type of single-chamber megalithic tomb, usually consisting of...
s and menhir
Menhir
A menhir is a large upright standing stone. Menhirs may be found singly as monoliths, or as part of a group of similar stones. Their size can vary considerably; but their shape is generally uneven and squared, often tapering towards the top...
s attest to the island's early sanctity. Whether or not its inhabitants were evangelised at the beginning of the fourth century by Martin of Vertou and Saint Hilaire, Irish monks from Bangor
Bangor, County Down
Bangor is a large town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is a seaside resort on the southern side of Belfast Lough and within the Belfast Metropolitan Area. Bangor Marina is one of the largest in Ireland, and holds Blue Flag status...
dedicated their monastery on the Île d'Yeu to Hilaire; Saint Amand
Saint Amand
Saint Amand or Amandus was a French Christian saint, one of the great Christian Saints of Flanders.-Biography:...
, from Poitou received early training there, but it was destroyed by Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
raiders in the ninth century.
During the tenth century, monks from Marmoutier
Marmoutier
Marmoutier is a commune in the Bas-Rhin département in Alsace in north-eastern France. The origin of the place is the former Marmoutier Abbey, of which the abbey church still serves as the parish church. It is a commune in the Bas-Rhin département in Alsace in north-eastern France.-History:In 590 St...
near Tours and monks of Saint-Cyprien at Poitiers built a new monastery and dedicated it to Saint Stephen
Saint Stephen
Saint Stephen The Protomartyr , the protomartyr of Christianity, is venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox Churches....
. The castle built on an islet linked to the coast by a bridge is first mentioned in 1356.
Since the nineteenth century Île d'Yeu has attracted many artists, such as Jean Rigaud
Jean Rigaud
Jean Rigaud is a well-listed French painter. He was born on June 15, 1912 in Bordeaux, France to the well-known painter, Pierre Gaston Rigaud . The Rigauds moved to the village of Guyenne in 1914, shortly after World War I began. It was during this time that Jean Rigaud received his first formal...
(1912–1999), official painter to the French Navy
French Navy
The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...
, who had a house there, and his friend Maurice Boitel
Maurice Boitel
Maurice Boitel Maurice Boitel Maurice Boitel (July 31, 1919 – August 11, 2007 in Audresselles (Pas-de-Calais), was a French painter.-Artistic life:Maurice Boitel belonged to the art movement called "La Jeune Peinture" ("Young Picture") of the School of Paris, with painters like Bernard Buffet, Yves...
(1919–2007)
The island's seaweeds have been the subject of studies by the French marine biologist Françoise Ardré
Françoise Ardré
Françoise Ardré is a French phycologist and marine scientist; honoured as the namesake of the red alga known as Pterosiphonia ardreana....
.
Administratively, the commune
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
of L'Île-d'Yeu (with that spelling) forms part of the Vendée
Vendée
The Vendée is a department in the Pays-de-la-Loire region in west central France, on the Atlantic Ocean. The name Vendée is taken from the Vendée river which runs through the south-eastern part of the department.-History:...
department and the Pays de la Loire
Pays de la Loire
Pays de la Loire is one of the 27 regions of France. It is one of the regions created in the late 20th century to serve as a zone of influence for its capital, Nantes, one of a handful so-called "balancing metropolises" ¹...
region
Régions of France
France is divided into 27 administrative regions , 22 of which are in Metropolitan France, and five of which are overseas. Corsica is a territorial collectivity , but is considered a region in mainstream usage, and is even shown as such on the INSEE website...
of France.
The island is reached by ferry from Fromentine or Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie
Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie
Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.It is situated on the Côte de Lumière...
. Air transportation is available at Île d'Yeu Aerodrome
Île d'Yeu Aerodrome
Île d'Yeu Aerodrome or Aérodrome d'Ile d'Yeu - Grand Phare is an airport located 3.5 km east of Port-Joinville on the island of Île d'Yeu, a commune of the Vendée département in the Pays de la Loire région of France.- External links :...
, with commercial service from Nantes Airport.
Notable residents
The hero of Verdun and the leader of France's wartime VichyVichy France
Vichy France, Vichy Regime, or Vichy Government, are common terms used to describe the government of France that collaborated with the Axis powers from July 1940 to August 1944. This government succeeded the Third Republic and preceded the Provisional Government of the French Republic...
régime, Philippe Pétain
Philippe Pétain
Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Joseph Pétain , generally known as Philippe Pétain or Marshal Pétain , was a French general who reached the distinction of Marshal of France, and was later Chief of State of Vichy France , from 1940 to 1944...
, died in prison on the island in 1951 and is buried there.
The poet Marc-Adolphe Guégan
Marc-Adolphe Guégan
Marc-Adolphe Guégan was a French journalist and poet who was an early exponent of Japanese haiku in the French language.He lived on the Île d'Yeu in the Atlantic....
, an early French exponent of Haiku
Haiku
' , plural haiku, is a very short form of Japanese poetry typically characterised by three qualities:* The essence of haiku is "cutting"...
, lived on the island until his death in 1959.
External links
- yeunet.com (in French)
- Official site for the tourism office and commune of the Ile d'Yeu (in French)