An area made for cycling
The Ile d’Oléron is an ideal destination to discover by bike. Lovers ofoutdoor activities will appreciate the island’s emphasis on soft modes of transport, and the multitude of cycling itineraries available to holidaymakers. Get on your bike and explore the greenways and cycle paths of the Ile d’Oléron, crossing salt marshes, pine forests and seaside paths on the Atlantic Ocean, passing through a seaside resort such as Saint Trojan les Bains opposite Marennes-Oléron. The Fief Melin campsite offers bike rentals on the Ile d’Oléron!
The Ile d’Oléron and Marennes Basin areas boast a total of around 160 km of cycle paths. They pass through a variety of landscapes and environments, including forests, coastline and marshes. Specific signposting is reserved for two-wheelers, so you can visit the Ile d’Oléron and the Marennes basin on the most pleasant and interesting cycling routes.
Your stay at a campsite on the Ile d’Oléron could include a walk in the Saumonards forest near Boyardville, an excursion to the north of the island to the Chassiron headland and lighthouse, or a cycling tour of the marshes in the south of the island, around Château d’Oléron. The island’s territory is laid out in such a way as to encourage cycling, with numerous picnic areas dotting the signposted itineraries.
The island’s very flat terrain is also particularly well-suited to cycling: cyclists of all levels can take advantage of it. The island’s signposted cycle paths are accessible to families with children, even the very young. The island’s many bike rental companies also offer bike-followers, trailers and carts, as well as electric-assist VTCs for effortless cycling. The network of signposted trails on the island and in the Marennes basin is being extended year by year, to offer even more space for bikes andthemed itineraries. Itineraries are available for all levels of cyclist, and alongside the family trails, there are also signposted routes suitable for sport cyclists.
Itineraries on the island and in the Marennes basin
On the island of Oléron, there are a number of signposted circuits of varying levels that can be considered “must-do” for the points of interest they offer or for the beauty of the landscapes they cross:
- The long circuit from the viaduct to Saint-Denis-d’Oléron crosses the whole island from south to north, passing through the marshes, Dolus-d’Oléron, Saint-Pierre and Saint-Georges-d’Oléron.
- From Boyardville to Saint-Denis, the cycle path runs along the coast through the beautiful Saumonards national forest.
- Around Saint-Pierre-d’Oléron, a short circuit takes you around typical hamlets to the port of La Cotinière.
- On the west coast, a magnificent circuit links Saint-Trojan to the Chassiron lighthouse, skirting the forest and then the coastline.
On the wild other side of the Viaduct, opposite the Ile d’Oléron, the Marennes basin is crossed by the Vélodyssée. Two stages can be followed:
- Marennes-Royan, a 45-kilometre cycling tour lasting around 3 hours.
- Rochefort-Marennes, a 37-kilometer route that takes around 2 hours 30 minutes to complete.
These two circuits are an opportunity to discover the precious heritage of the Marennes basin, from Fort Louvois, built at the foot of the viaduct on the island, to the bell tower of the Marennes church, the listed citadel of Brouage and the tidal mill of Saint-Just-Luzac. Discover all the cycling itineraries in PDF.
Visit our region
Visit Château-d’Oléron
Château-d’Oléron Citadel
Le Marais aux oiseaux
Boyardville
Port des Salines
Port de la Cotinière
Chassiron lighthouse
Fort Boyard
The beaches of Ile Oléron
Campsite Saint-Denis-d’Oléron
Camping La Brée-les-Bains
Camping Saint-Georges-d’Oléron
Saint-Pierre-d’Oléron campsite
Boyardville Campsite
Camping Dolus-d’Oléron
Camping Saint-Trojan-les-Bains
Camping Le Grand-Village-Plage
