South of the island, cliffs and open land look over the panoramic view of the ocean. The wild coast, lashed by the waves, is unforgettable during the winter. But as one follows the paths through gorse and moors, one will be surprised to find at the northeast of the island another profile more from Aquitaine than from Brittany : woods of cupressus, fine sandy beaches and dunes. And still another landscape hides behind this sandy one : marshes and “bocage”, a great source of life, world of the willow and the reed.

It is thus not surprising that the fauna and flora is so rich. There is a great variety of plants (800 wild species, 16 species of wild orchids), which like the king’s spear or the poppy, enhances the beauty of the island all year long. There are also 254 species of birds on the island : sea birds (great skuas, small penguins, puffins, northern gannets) as well as birds from the mainland (sandpipers, plovers, common ringed plovers). Finally, sea life offers also a great diversity from the common garfish to the noble lobster.

But the island of Yeu is not just a painting of beautiful landscapes. There’s more to it. It’s a place of life. And the islanders are full of life. Traditions, an integral part of everyday life, proves this : songs, gastronomy, marriages, festivities etc. The architecture reflects in some way this cheerful nature : Mediterranean style white houses with low tile roofs and colourful shutters. The shutters used to be painted with the same paint used for the fishing boats.