A paradise for surfers, cyclists, birds, butterflies and gourmets, Ile de Ré is one of the most beautiful holiday destinations that holidaymakers seeking peace, beauty and authenticity can find. Connected by a bridge to La Rochelle, it is located in Charente-Maritime, between ocean, dunes, salt marshes, beaches and forests. Sometimes nicknamed "D la blanche", the island definitely has everything to please. Spread over 89 square kilometres, this island with 10 villages but also 10 faces will fascinate you with its mosaic of landscapes and its wide range of activities for successful holidays, with family, couples or friends.
First of all, for your holidays to be successful, you will need to bring a bike. If you don't have one, don't panic, the Ile de Ré is teeming with bicycle rental shops for young and old. Once properly equipped, it's done : your holidays can finally begin ! Start your visit of the island by the commune of Rivedoux-Plage. First village on the Ile de Ré just after the 3 km bridge, it is bordered by two long strips of fine sand, one facing the Vendée, the other facing La Rochelle and the Ile d'Aix. A family destination par excellence, it attracts water sports enthusiasts every year thanks to its long white sandy beaches, where sailing and kitesurfing are flagship disciplines for many holidaymakers (especially on the northern beach).
Located to the west of the island, between the wild coast and the large beach of the Conche, the commune of Saint-Clément-des-Baleines is known to the general public for its mythical Whale Lighthouse. Built in the middle of the 19th century, this 60 metre high lighthouse is the most visited site on the Ile de Ré. Classified as a historical monument just like the Vauban tower, it can be visited all year round : we advise you to climb its 260 steps in order to admire an indescribably beautiful panorama over the island and the ocean. The beach of La Conche is one of the most popular on the whole Ile de Ré: lined with dunes and blockhouses, it is the busiest beach on the island but is no less pleasant. Adored for fishing on foot, you can also swim while enjoying the view of the lighthouse.
Peninsula in the island, Loix and its 14 kilometres of coastline is bordered by the Fier d'Ars, the salt marshes and the Atlantic Ocean. Between land and sea, it surprises by its typical architecture : stroll in its flowered alleys, discover its tidal mill, its Sainte-Catherine church and especially its magnificent salt marshes. The main wealth of the island with the vine, the culture of salt is emblematic of local history. If the sauniers were in the 19th century more than 1000, they are only 85 to harvest this white gold nowadays. To admire the beauty and magic that emanates from these marshes, we advise you to go there at the end of the day, when the sun goes down to the horizon and the sky is tinged with shimmering colours reflected in the marshes : a panorama worthy of the most beautiful postcards.
A few pedal strokes away, Ars-en-Ré is one of the most beautiful villages on the Ile de Ré : renowned for its architecture, this recognizable holiday resort thanks to its white houses with green shutters as well as its paved streets dotted with roses is a popular destination for its calm. You will love its belfry surmounted by a black and white bell tower used as a guide for boats, its bay, its sailing school and its marina. Its beautiful beaches along immense cycle paths will guide you to its salt marshes, and will also allow you to reach the emblematic Whale Lighthouse, or to discover the National Nature Reserve of Lilleau des Niges and its protected biodiversity. Located in the commune of Portes-en-Ré, it is one of the natural jewels of the Ile de Ré. Authentic and peaceful, this village comes alive when summer comes, especially around its Liberty Square dotted with terraces where you will have the opportunity to discover the sweet local flavors. On the menu ? Oysters, mussels, potatoes, salt, cognac and pineau, in short : something to delight the gourmands.
La Flotte is one of the oldest towns on the island: a former fishing village, it is one of the "Most Beautiful Villages in France" : its architectural heritage, its abbey, its fort, its beautiful flower-filled alleys, its typical medieval market and its port make it an essential stop on your holiday on Ile de Ré. Climb on your bike and head south to the village of Sainte-Marie-de-Ré. Between vineyards and ocean, you will love its preserved side, its charming shops of the place d'Antioche, its markets, its thalassotherapy center but also its concerts, its gourmet evenings, its garage sales, its narrow streets dotted with winegrowers' houses, and of course its coast. Changing with the seasons, the landscapes that you will be able to admire during your escapades along the wild coast will leave you speechless, that is certain. Here, you can fish on foot, surf, admire the flora and observe the birds... We advise you to take the "Sentier des 5 paysages" starting from the cove of Port Notre-Dame, this 8 km walk will be an opportunity for you to discover the richness of the fauna and flora of Sainte-Marie-de-Ré.
With its 6 kilometres of beautiful beaches, Le Bois-Plage-en-Ré is one of the most popular seaside resorts on the island. You will fall in love with its dunes, its woods suitable for hiking, its authentic landscapes and its afternoons of idleness rocked by the clemency of the Atlantic and the ardour of the Rhétais sun.
Capital of the Ile de Ré, Saint-Martin-de-Ré is a fortified town adored by walkers who come to stroll through its alleys and along its port. Do not miss to take a look at its lively city centre, its ramparts built in the 17th century by Vauban, its prison, its museums, its Observatory Bell Tower (from which the panoramic view is unforgettable) and its "Beach of the Target", recognizable thanks to its rows of bathing cabins.
Finally, La Couarde-sur-Mer is the most natural and soothing destination on the Île de Ré : in the heart of the island, the starting point for many bike rides, it seduces many holidaymakers looking for peace and quiet. Stroll through its labyrinth of streets, along the Goisil channel, behind its pine lined dunes and by the ocean along the "Plage des Prises", where lovers of sailing, jet-skiing, water skiing, paddle, surfing and kite-surfing come together to try to tame the mythical waves of the Atlantic.
