Distance : 12,5 KM
Time : approximately 3 h 15
Starting point :
At the traffic lights of Port-Joinville. Walk straight ahead for approximately 2,5 km. At St Sauveur, turn right rue du Dr-Viaud-Grand-Marais, then walk towards the church.
Left of the church, on the opposite wall, a board shows where is your starting point.
Sights :
1 St Sauveur Seigniorial House
2 Meule Harbour and Chapel
3 La Pierre Tremblante
4 Les pierres du Pain et du Beurre
5.Le menhir des Soux
6.Le Port et la plage des Vieilles
7.Le Marais Salé
Description
:
Saint Sauveur is dominated by its church. Some sections of the church date back to the XIth century. In 1953, a violent thunderstorm destroyed the bell tower and since then, most of the destroyed sections have been restored. The church has been classified as a Historical Monument in 1906. From the chuch, follow the street rueGeneral Leclerc and take the 2 nd path on your left Rue Beauregard. You will soon discover La maison Seigneuriale (the Seigniorial House). It was built during the 17th century by Jean-Emmanuel de Rieux, Lord of Ile d'Yeu. It was built for his Procurator Fiscal. Continue straight ahead through the street Rue de Ker Guérin. Cross Ker-Viroux, the highest point of the island. Continue on Route de la Croix Blanche. At the end of the path, turn right. Walk to the stop sign and continue on. Then take the path, on your left, off the bend. Take the 1 st path on your left. About halfway, on your left, you will see Cupulae stones " Chien-à-l'affût".
At the first junction, turn right. 600 meters away, there are les pierres du Pain et du Beurre, (“stones of bread and butter”). This name comes from the shape of these stones. Farther off, stands the menhir des Soux or " Pierre du Tonnerre " (‘Thunder stone’), remains of a former dolmen now destroyed. Follow the path chemin des Vieilles. Turn right impasse de la Gargourite. The path leads to a tiny harbour : le petit port des Vieilles.
At the intersection, turn left and walk to the Village de la Meule and its typical little white houses. Further down, there is le Port de la Meule. This small harbour is the only accessible place of shelter on this side of the island. The 6th century Chapel Notre Dame de Bonne Nouvelle is on the hilltop. It was a place of pilgrimage for the seamen on Easter Monday and Assumption day. Turn back and take right. Walk for about 500 meters, then turn right to the Pierre tremblante (shaking stone), an enormous block 7 meters long. It moves when you push it gently. Walk alongside the coast to the beach : plage des Fontaines. Take the path on your left, you can see a semaphore not very far away (it belongs to the French Navy and is still operational).
Walk up to the beach Marais Salé and turn left to find Route du Marais Salé. At the intersection, 800 meters away, turn right and take the 1 st path on your left, chemin du Chiron Chat Moreau, then chemin de Ker Pierre l'Ane, and finally chemindu Petit Clou. Pass through the village des Martinières. Walk straight ahead up to your starting point : St Sauveur.
Turn back. From the path chemin des Vieilles, take a look at the panoramic view of the beach Les vieilles and in the distance the lighthouse of the Pointe des Corbeaux. After the Village de La Croix, take the path on your left chemin de la Roche à Robion which crosses the marsh of Ilia. Not much people take this dank path so it tends to be invaded by vegetation. It ends in the woods called Bois des Conches made of pine trees and evergreen oaks. You’re now on the other side of the island which has a more aquitaine profile with its fine sandy beaches and dunes.
