Ile de l'Est Travel Guide

Welcome to Ile de l'Est!

The carefully protected Île de l'Est's wetlands have been meticulously maintained as a natural oasis for various sea birds. The Réserve Nationale de Faune has supported generations of interesting species such as masked piping plovers and brightly plumed horned grebes. In fact, one of the island's greatest claims to fame is it was where some of the Earth's very last Dodos were spotted in 1663.

At Île de l'Est's southern end is Old Harry, where some of the Îles de la Madeleine's few English-speaking residents have made their home since their arrival in the 18th century. The hamlet retains much of its fascinating historic appeal, an example being the 1916 Church of St-Peter's-by-the-sea, which has doors beautifully inscribed in dedication to a former resident. The Grande-Échourie Beach is possibly the widest and most family-friendly of the archipelago, and is staffed by a lifeguard during busy months, and summer's end is celebrated each year with the Rendez-Vous Aventure competition, where kite and windsurfers tackle the waves in feats of stunning acrobatics and coordination.