The Ile
de Ré is composed of four islands : Ré, Loix, Ars and Les Portes. Those islands got interconnected in time thanks to the alluvions and the sea walls built by the inhabitants. |
old map of the island |
The island lies in front of La Rochelle. The island is 28 km long (until the lighthouse “Le Phare des Baleines”) or 30 km (until the tip of the “Fier”).
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the bridge |
donkeys "en culotte" |
The island is a little world just above the water with fine golden sand and fragrant air of pine trees. It produces oysters, grapes and salt and has donkeys waring pants! A world “where everything glitters as the Orient does” (Eugène
Fromentin).
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The Island is an ideal place for walking along the ocean and for practicing watersports. The climat and the luminosity are absolutely unique
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stairways of the Baleines' lighthouse
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Alcea Rosea
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The coast is very jagged in the East and has large sand dunes and beaches of fine sand.
La Conche Beach
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La Rochelle is 3 km away. The sunshine is only comparable to that of the Côte d’Azur. The environement is absolutely unique in France.
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Because of the climat, visitors are coming all over the year to the island. Summer holidays, a short trip, a prolounged weekend or a simple stay off season : every pretext is good enough to come over to the island. |
Baleines' lighthouse |
You can easily cross the island by bicycle. The landscape is varying, alternating vineyards, salt marshes, harbours and beaches of fine sand. |
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Don’t forget to discover local specialities : oysters, the little early Ré potatoes, salt, cognac and pineau.
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salt |
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salt marshes |
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