Île d'Yeu, Atlantic island in Vendée, France
Île d'Yeu is a roughly 23-square-kilometer Atlantic island off the coast of Vendée in western France. The coastline alternates between flat sandy beaches in the north and rugged cliff sections in the south.
In the 9th century, Irish monks founded a monastery dedicated to Saint Hilaire, but Vikings destroyed the complex in later raids. Only in the following centuries was monastic life slowly restored.
The name comes from the Latin Oia, pointing to early Celtic settlers who lived here before Roman conquests. Local fishermen have set out to sea from small harbors for generations, bringing back tuna and sardines sold at markets.
Ferries run regularly from Fromentine and Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, with the crossing taking about 30 minutes. On the island, you can walk, rent bicycles, or drive, as a small road network connects the settlements.
Since 2020, the Harmon'Yeu project connects 23 houses through an automated system that redistributes solar energy between buildings when the sun shines. Local residents call this technical arrangement an intelligent microgrid, and it runs quietly in the background.
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