Île de Ré Things to Do Tips by Lilasel

Just the sea...

Being just a few days on this island next to sea I have understand who I am...the child of the sea. Living for more than one year in Burgundy in the centre of the France I missed the sea and this feeling seems so clear for somebody who got used to live next to the sea (I mean Riga and the Baltic Sea). So Lilasel left to search for a place where she can find the sea again, she can't live without it...

Phare de la Baleine

There are two famous sentries on the site : the presents-day 'Grand Phare' (tall lighthouse) (1854) and the 'Vieille Tour' (Old Tower) ordered by Colbert and built in 1662.
The 'Grand Phare' can be visited all year round. For its ascent, you will climb 257 steps to reach the height of 60 m with a panoramic view at 360°.

Abbaye des Chateliers

In the 12th century, Cistercian monks founded one of the largest abbeys in central and western France. Unfortunately, it was subjected first to attacks by the English and then to the ravages of the religious wars. After that, most of its stones were taken to construct the Fort de la Prée one kilometre away. The little that remains is nevertheless enough to conjure up a picture of its former splendour.

La Flotte

In the 19th century La Flotte was a tuna-fishing port. Every spring around a hundred boats would gather for the year’s harvest from the sea. It seems a little difficult to picture nowadays, the village being so peaceful.
La Flotte presents an interesting contrast between the grand houses along the quays and the maze of terraced cottages behind them. Don’t miss the indoor market.

Donkeys

These donkeys are like a symbol of an island but most of them are founded next to Saint-Martin-en-Re. They transfered the sea salt but today these donkeys are the folklore of the island

Ice-Cream...

In Saint-Martin-en-Re there is a great shop La Martiniere. They sell incredible ice-cream you have to try for sure. I've tried caramel fleur du sel with Chantilly cream! mmmmmm....

St Martin

The port at Saint-Martin de-Ré still recalls the great sail ships of the Royal Navy, and the departure of convicts such as Henri Charrière – better known as Papillon - to the penal colonies of Guiana and New Caledonia.

St Martin - the capital...

The capital town of the Île de Ré is St-Martin de Ré, a fishing port on the north of the island with stone quays and the ubiquitous white houses. The village is surrounded by Vauban’s 17th-century fortifications, rebuilt after the Duke of Buckingham’s unsuccessful attempt to capture the island in 1627.

Cape Gruin

From this point you can observe St.Martin-en-Re.

Loix

Loix is situated on an isthmus, a little apart from the island proper, and takes its very particular character from this isolation. Marshland, oyster beds, the wild bird sanctuary – so rustic that two cars passing each other is a rare event, likely to cause a traffic jam!