When you think of your village or town its history immediately comes to mind, that's why I have done my best to explain how l'Aiguillon came into being…

... Without any cliffs, the coastline of l'Aiguillon was but a fragile barrier against the onslaughts of the sea which, at times, tried to regain the land abandoned centuries ago......

“ ... 23 May 1782 : The sea has started to take over large areas belonging to the barony of l''Isle and the Cape of L'Aiguillon. It has already reclaimed half a mile of land in the old town of L'Aiguillon and is getting nearer and nearer every day.... ”

“... Pre-19th century maps are numerous but unfortunately rather inaccurate. However, on the earliest reliable maps, the bay of L' Aiguillon already had its semi-circular shape at the beginning of the 17th century ......

...A 1627 map (at the time of the siege of la Rochelle), shows the Pointe de l'Aiguillon reaching the meridian of the 'Dive' rock ...”

... This is an unusual land. Not in a faraway country but here in the Vendée, a waterlogged, unstable, constantly-threatened plain under huge skies

“ ... Her name is Lilac, she lives on the edge of the village: He, Jean-Marie, is one of those "strangers" who are building a new dyke and when his companion is found dead, his throat slit, after a night's drinking binge, he becomes the perfect suspect. Saint-Martin de Ré and hard labour await him .... ”