Port Joinville
Coordinates: 46 ° 43 ′ N , 2 ° 21 ′ W
Port-Joinville is the main town and ferry port of the French Atlantic island Île d'Yeu in the Vendée department in the western French region of Pays de la Loire .
The place is on the northeast coast of the island. From here you can take ferries to the mainland, Fromentine , La Fosse on the Île de Noirmoutier or St. Gilles-Croix-de-Vie in 40 to 70 minutes . On January 12, 2006, a catamaran named Pont d'Yeu was put into service, which shortens the crossing to Fromentine to 30 minutes.
Until the 17th century there was only a small natural harbor surrounded by two rocky piers. Due to its favorable location between Bordeaux and the northern trading areas, it was particularly popular as a deep-sea stage with sailors from the Armorique , which first earned the port the name Port aux Bretons and later the name Port Breton .
In the 17th century a new quay was built and in 1846 the place was renamed Port-Joinville. The new name was intended to honor Louis-Philippe-Joseph, Duke of Orléans , Prince de Joinville and his son Louis-Philippe , who had pushed ahead with the further expansion of the port in the 19th century. A harbor basin, a modern fishing port and a marina were added in the 20th century . In 2005, a pier for catamarans was built next to the previous main pier, Gare Maritime . For a long time, fishing was the most important source of income, flanked by a few large fish processing factories (Usines district; now closed). A large fish auction hall next to the weekly market was demolished in 2005.
Today, especially in the summer months, tourists provide the islanders with another source of income. Port-Joinville is popular because of its original buildings typical of the region with small white houses. Along the harbor there are numerous inns from which the goings-on of the fishermen can be observed. Although there is a large supermarket on each of the entry and exit roads , a tribe of traditional, artisanal retailers (bakers, butchers, hardware stores) has so far been able to survive in the town center.
A particularly popular means of transport on the island is the bicycle . Many locals use bicycles to avoid parking problems in the port area. Numerous bicycle rental companies have many thousands of two-wheelers available for tourists. An alternative to motorized individual transport is the so-called ID bus .
Structurally, the place is dominated by the Notre-Dame du Port church, which was built in 1827. Also worth seeing are an old sea rescue station (near the post office), a fishing museum and a local museum.
Marshal Philippe Pétain , who was imprisoned in Fort de Pierre-Levée from 1945 to 1951, is buried in the cemetery above Port-Joinville .