The Butterfly Island in Noirmoutier

🦋 The Butterfly Island in Noirmoutier, in the Vendée.

The largest tropical butterfly greenhouse in France.

Located in La Guérinière, a 1-hour drive from Pornic, in the heart of Noirmoutier Island, Île aux Papillons is a magical place where hundreds of tropical butterflies flit freely in a greenhouse heated to 26°C.

A true tropical paradise, perfect for a day out with family, as a couple, or with friends.

🌴 A unique sensory experience
As soon as you enter the greenhouse, you’re immersed in a tropical atmosphere:

• more than 1,000 exotic butterflies in vibrant colors,
• lush vegetation and a warm, humid climate, perfectly controlled,
• butterflies flying freely, sometimes just a few centimeters from visitors,
• the chance to observe every stage of the life cycle: caterpillar, chrysalis, emergence

🦜 An enriched visit: the loriquets

L’Île aux Papillons also features an area dedicated to loriquets, small, colorful, and curious parrots that round out the experience. A fun and interactive experience that children especially love.

🎥 A Strong Educational Focus

To help visitors understand the fascinating life of butterflies, a video presentation explains their life cycle and their role in the ecosystem. Captivating content for all ages, perfect for an educational and entertaining visit

👨‍👩‍👧 An ideal family activity

Why choose L’Île aux Papillons?

• an enchanting, exotic, and immersive setting,
• an activity you can enjoy in any weather: the greenhouse is covered and climate-controlled,
• an educational and fun outing.

The Pornic Inter-municipal Tourist Office has put together the perfect day out for you:

Board the Évasion 3, departing from the Port de la Noëveillard in Pornic for a one-hour crossing. You’ll arrive at the Port de l’Herbaudière on the island of Noirmoutier. As soon as you disembark, you’ll easily find a bike hire company, ‘L’Île à Vélo’, nearby.

Head towards La Guérinière, where L’Île aux Papillons is located.

The cycle ride is a real pleasure:

• safe cycle paths,
• varied landscapes: salt marshes, dunes, pine forests,
• little white houses with blue shutters.

It’s a gentle 30- to 40-minute cycle ride to reach L’Île aux Papillons. To fully enjoy the enchanting visit to L’Île aux Papillons, allow around 1 hour 15 minutes.
After your visit, treat yourself to lunch on a terrace or a picnic on the beach.

Continue as you wish:
a cycle ride to Sables d’Or beach,
exploring the Passage du Gois (at low tide),
an ice-cream break in Noirmoutier-en-l’Île,
exploring the salt marshes.

Around 5.00 pm – return to the port of L’Herbaudière

Return the bikes, soak up the harbour atmosphere for a little while longer, then board the ferry back to Pornic.

6.00 pm – Return crossing to Pornic aboard the Évasion 3

The sun is setting, the light turns golden.
The day ends as it began: on the water, in a peaceful atmosphere.You return to Pornic with your head full of memories: tropical butterflies, seascapes, the scent of pine trees, the freedom of cycling…A simple day offering a complete change of scenery.

Shop

Butterfly-themed souvenirs and gift ideas: postcards, jewellery, stamps and collectable dice, picture frames, books, toys…

Catering
Refreshments and ice creams on sale at the shop
Large, covered picnic area, free of charge for visitors

Parking
Car park for cars and coaches

Access for visitors with disabilities
The entire site is wheelchair accessible.

Parking spaces are reserved for vehicles carrying people with disabilities.