Have you noticed the islands in the estuary? There are around ten of them in the Gironde which appear and disappear over the centuries. Refuges for humans for years, these islands are today true paradises for local fauna and flora.
Where do the estuary islands come from?
All these small alluvial deposits eventually emerge from the water to form a sandbank. They are called "mudbanks" when the first vegetation is visible, and "islands" when they are reinforced or diked by humans.
Of men and islands
People lived on the islands of the estuary in order to reclaim arable land! The embanking of these islands provided the "islanders" with real strips of land in the middle of the water, allowing them to grow vegetables and then cultivate vines during the phylloxera crisis.
The New Island
Formed by the joining of two islands (Bouchaud and Sans Pain), Ile Nouvelle , owned by the Conservatoire du Littoral, stretches for 6 km in the heart of the Estuary, opposite Blaye. Since its emergence at the beginning of the 19th century, its history has been full of twists and turns: shifting then diked, used for wine and agricultural purposes, inhabited and finally abandoned.
L'Ile Nouvelle is open to the public with a nature walk featuring interpretive panels about the wetland and a cultural and historical tour through the heart of the old village. Suitable for ages 10 and up.
Patiras Island
Unlike New Island, Patiras Island is one of the oldest islands in the Gironde Estuary.
4.5 km long and 1.5 km wide, it is the northernmost island in the river. For several years it would have been a den of pirates who attacked boats full of goods going to Bordeaux.
Later, it was used as a "health watch" where ships arriving from afar underwent quarantine. From the 18th century onwards, the island became a place for farming and grazing. In the 19th century, a lighthouse was built there to guide ships through the heart of the estuary.
Even though the lighthouse has been out of service since 1992, life on the island continues. In 2008, the "Refuge de Patiras" was built on the site of the former lighthouse keeper's house. This authentic seaside lodge, built on stilts, was designed by Bordeaux architects Virginie Gravière and Olivier Martin. The lodge and its garden are open to the public for a simple lunch and a tour of the lighthouse.
