Would you like to spend your next vacation in Charente-Maritime at a campsite on the Ile d’Oléron? You’re not alone! In 2015, Charente-Maritime was ranked as the top destination for French people (excluding Paris), after recording over 34 million visits that year alone.
But that’s hardly surprising when you consider that Charente-Maritime boasts some of the most beautiful scenery in France, from its coastline to its tidal marshes, vineyards and forests.
And we haven’t even mentioned its rich and varied historical and cultural heritage, so what else is there to do and discover in Charente-Maritime apart from the famous Ile d’Oléron.
La Rochelle
Come and visit the Old Port and its famous towers, symbols of the city, before losing yourself in the streets to discover its architecture and stores. Enjoy an ice cream at Ernest le glacier.
Don’t forget to visit La Rochelle’s beautiful aquarium, one of the largest in Europe. If you’re a sailing enthusiast, come aboard one of the sailboats in the Port des Minimes.
photos by : Francis GIRAUDON – La Rochelle
& Elsa COEFFE – Charentes Tourisme
The island of Ré
Near La Rochelle, come and discover the Ile de Ré with its typical villages, including La Flotte en Ré and Ars en Ré, ranked among France’s most beautiful villages.
To do: Renting a bike is the best way to discover the secrets of this other Charente island. During your ride, don’t hesitate to discover the lighthouse of the whales, Le Bois plage en ré, but also Saint martin de ré where the pleasure of eating an ice cream on the port will delight you.
Rochefort
This town, between sea and marsh, invites you on a historic and maritime voyage, thanks in part to its transporter bridge, which appears to be one of the last in France, and its famous port, which regularly welcomes the Hermione.
Rochefort, a military town, was chosen by Colbert to be the largest arsenal in the kingdom. Despite all this history, Rochefort is also renowned for the benefits of its thermal waters, which are beneficial for rheumatic pain.
From Rochefort, you can visit Ile d’Aix and Ile Madame. If you’re a nature-lover, you’ll love the peace and quiet of these two small islands, where cyclists and pedestrians are king.
A 20-minute boat trip from Fouras will take you to an island where nature is preserved. Île d’Aix, with its fortified village, will reveal its speciality to you with a visit to the Maison de la Nacre, and you can also tour the island in around 3 hours.
Île d’Aix and Île Madame
A 20-minute boat trip from Fouras will take you to an island where nature is preserved.
Aix Island
You can stroll through the fortified village, discover the speciality of the Maison de la Nacre and tour the island in around 3 hours.
Île Madame
Île Madame is the most intimate island in Charente-Maritime. You can only get there at low tide. To get there, take the ‘passe au bœuf’, but beware of tide times. Once there, you can stroll around the island, enjoy a fishing trip and visit an aquaculture farm.
Royan
Royan, a tourist town, will seduce you with its beaches and 50s architecture. Discover the central market, the Notre Dame church and the Palais des Congrès.
Further north, Pontaillac: a town with a beach that invites you to relax by the water, but also, for those who love to glide, to surf. Along the coast, you’ll also discover La Palmyre.
Nearby, you can recharge your batteries at the thalasso in Saujon. If you like to go for a walk, don’t hesitate to take a horse ride in the Courbe forest, or, if you’re more sporty, get on your bike and follow the Vélodyssée.
Saintes
A town of art and history, the city offers a multitude of journeys through history and water, and was developed by the Romans. A two-thousand-year-old city where you can discover its triumphal arch (Germanicus Arch), its Ladies’ Abbey, the Saint amphitheatre and the Saint-Eutrope basilica. You can also board a Gabare or a cruise boat for a trip on the Charente River.
Come, we’ll make you
Visit
