Today it’s a tranquil haven but the island has had a turbulent past. It, too, was considered strategically valuable so was fought over by the French and English during the Hundred Years War. It is also where Napoleon Bonaparte spent his last days in France.

Shaped like a croissant and just two kilometres long – you can walk around it in about three hours – its landscape varies from sandy coves and rocky coastline to forests and even vineyards.

It’s a pretty place, with the traditional white painted village houses found on the Atlantic coast, their gardens full of hollyhocks bright in the sun. There are no cars so to get around you walk, cycle or take a horse-drawn carriage tour (Tel: +33 5 46 82 76 72) that lasts just under an hour and takes you round the island.

Plage de l’anse de la Croix is the main beach, with fine sand and views to Fort Boyard. During July and August it is patrolled by life guards.

The Musée Napoléon or La Maison de l’Empereur

One of island’s big attractions. Napoleon I had it constructed so he had a residence worthy of his status, and it was from here that he surrendered to the English so it became his last place of residence on French soil. Read more …

Musée Africain or the Africa Museum

Gourgaud was an amateur hunter and the Africa Museum houses his collection of objects, from stuffed animals to artefacts, that he collected on his travels.

A mother-of-pearl Museum

If you love mother-of-pearl then visit the Maison de la nacre, a museum devoted to this by-product of the oyster farming industry. Tel: +33 5 46 84 66 17.

Fort Liédot

Was the idea of Napoleon I who wanted to make the entire island completely impregnable from outside forces. It can only be visited on a guided tour which includes a treasure hunt for children. Tel: +33 5 46 83 01 82 or ask at the tourist office.

Photo 1 and Photo 2 by thierry llansades / CC BY 2.0 images cropped; Photo 3 by marc.desbordes