Our Charente-Maritime itinerary was an improvised holiday break in France. Bordered by 5 French departments, Charente-Maritime enjoys a delicate local weather and is one of France’s most well known locations. Its Atlantic coast has 463 km of coastline, of which 230 km on the islands, this sort of as Ile d’Oléron reverse of Bourcefranc-Le-Chapus and Ile de Ré connected to La Rochelle. And 3 rivers, the Charente, the Seudre, and the Sèvre Niortaise, cross the region’s lush inexperienced countryside. Perched on the hills, the vineyards in Charente-Maritime generate some of the most famous spirits in the earth, these kinds of as Remy Martin and Hennessy.
In Germany, educational facilities have Easter holidays, but not in France. Hence, we had a excellent time discovering this less crowded and much less expensive spot without the need of headache. We could not prepare our Charente-Maritime itinerary in advance of our holiday getaway. Immediately after the vacation, we recognized how quite a few functions we had performed in just a 7 days. Down below is the detail of our just one-7 days Charente-Maritime Itinerary:
- 1st Day: IIe d’Oleron
- 2ed Day: Fort Louvois and Salt marshes on the island of Oleron
- 3rd Working day: ile de re (Plage des bidons V) La Rochelle
- 4th Working day: In the getaway home in Bourcefranc
- 5th Day: Cognac Tasting in Cognac, France
- 6th Working day: Dune beach front, Le Phare de La Coubre, la Palmyre, Royan, Grottes du Régulus
1st Day: IIe d’Oleron
Seaside strolling
From Bourcefranc-Le-Chapus, we handed the long bridge connected to the island and turned to the still left in the direction of the Forest of Saint-Trojan. The seaside, Plage de Saint-Trojan-les-Bains, is at the rear of the forest. I walked on the extensive seaside aimlessly, observing the waves rippling carefully. There was no clump of seaweed washed on the beach. Wanting much out, I saw a line of nickel-silver, the horizon!
Several beautiful seashores stretch kilometres together the blue Atlantic, a paradise for beachgoers in the summer time.
Stroll around the imposing ramparts near the citadel of Le Château-d’Oléron
The citadel and ramparts bordering the medieval district of Le Château-d’Oléronare are obtainable 12 months-spherical. The ramparts of the web site offer you a panoramic look at of the Normal Reserve of Moëze-Oléron. It is exciting to view how the tides adjust the landscape of the port.
Investigate colourful oyster huts
All around lunchtime, we strolled in the port of Château-d’Oléron and remarkably uncovered many vibrant huts, Cabanes de créateurs (the designer huts). They used to be oyster huts. The artists, from sculptors, and jewelers, to cutlers, have been developing and repainting those huts for years. My eyes were being drawn to a blue hut, a purple 1, and a yellow one particular at the waterfront. What a fantastic position for photographers!
Mountaineering at the northern idea of the island
In the late afternoon, we drove to the northern and experienced a cliff walk all over the lighthouse, the Phare de Chassiron. The spherical stroll about the lighthouse rewarded us with rocky coastal views. On the other hand, the sunset was nevertheless having difficulties by way of the rainy clouds, supplying us a lightning chance to seize the views. Some sites have warning signs considering that the cliff has erosions. We had to take safety measures walking on the cliffside.
2ed IIe d’Oleron (Fort Louvois and boat vacation in Salt marshes on the island of Oleron)
Fort Louvois
From the backyard, we could see Fort Louvois when it was obvious temperature. Just before we took the boat journey in salt marshes on the IIe d’Oleron, we designed a stopover there. This 17th-century maritime fortification is quick to arrive at at very low tide on foot and by boat at large tide. The street to the fortification was however soaked considering that the reduced tide commenced and protected by seaweed. Consequently, the strolling path was really slippery.
Bost journey in Salt marshes in Le Grand Village Plage
A massive area of the island is salt marshes. Numerous salt producers welcome visitors to share their enthusiasm, giving tours introducing salt farming works and record. We employed a boat at Le Port des Salines and invested about 45 minutes in the canals amid the salt marshes. It was a boat rowing activity for our son. So, immediately after the boat journey, we however expended some time there viewing the salt marshes on foot.
3rd ile de re (Plage des bidons V) La Rochelle
Ile de Ré
In the summer seasons, Ile de Ré is in which you will locate 50 percent of Paris possessing its vacation there. Strips of uninterrupted golden fluffy sand beaches include substantially of the island’s coastline. This small island is connected to La Rochelle via a toll bridge.
Close to lunchtime, we drove to Plage des bidons V on the western aspect and located ourselves almost alone on the beach front, other than two horse riders. There were being some wild crops on the beachfront, which I could not explain to the identify.
La Rochelle
The previous harbour of La Rochelle is the centre of the city and is very hectic. But the initial factor that caught my eyes was the graffiti on the walls. They have been all big but nicely painted. From the centre of the harbour, we could see a few medieval historic towers of LA Rochelle. A single of them, the Lantern Tower, served as a Lighthouse and jail throughout its heritage.
Properly, the strongest impact of this put is the selection of its restaurants. In just the whole previous town, we observed dining places and bars supplying quick food, homemade French foods, international foods, and gourmet dishes. Given that most eateries open up close to 19:30, we experienced lots of time to analyze menus.
4th In the getaway house in Bourcefranc
In the early early morning, we woke up and observed significant tar-black clouds shifting toward our area. We experienced a brief verify in which to commit the day but sadly figured out that the complete place would be a rainy day. We got up early sufficient and experienced breakfast, hoping the weather improved mercifully.
Out of the blue, I read the very first splatter of rain tapping on the window, and then the drops have been drumming on the terrace. The rainfall turned rigorous in the future hour. We had prepared to visit a number of destinations, but none of them had superior weather. So, it was recreation enjoying and guide reading day.
5th Cognac Tasting in Cognac, France
Because the weather turned improved, we were capable to comply with our Charente-Maritime Itinerary, checking out the city of Cognac and joined a Cognac Tasting tour. Cognac is not only the well-known spirit but also the place in which the spirit is made. We prepared to see the touristic town and the historic home of Rémy Martin. But sadly, the dwelling was less than renovation and planning for the upcoming 300 year’s celebration. Discontented with the circumstance, we went to its store up coming door to invest in cognac as planned.
There, we acquired a probability to be part of a cognac tasting tour. The one-tour was not totally free, but it was the only English tour of the 7 days all through the off-season. Given that we ended up uncertain which manufacturer or item to get, it was a possibility to know the magic formula of this premium spirit.
6th Lighthouse of La Coubre and Grottes du Régulus
Climb up the Lighthouse of La Coubre
The Lighthouse of La Coubre is the tallest in the Charente-Maritime, with a top of 64 metres. It was effortless to climb up the tower, irrespective of of narrow stairs. As soon as on the prime of the lighthouse, we experienced views of the gorgeous coast and modifying dunes.
Grottes du Régulus
Continue on driving toward the south, and following getting a brief halt at la Palmyre, we made the decision to have lunch at Royan. Royan is a seaside resort with countless shores of the ocean and its 5 sandy beach locations proudly flying the Blue Flag.
Found 12 km from Royan, the Grottes du Régulus (Caves of Régulus), a municipal troglodyte web-site, is open up to the general public for a couple months of a calendar year. There are a few caves together this extend of coast. But this one is a municipal.
Journey recommendations for setting up Charente-Maritime itinerary
Where by to remain
We stayed in Bourcefranc-Le-Chapus. The holiday break dwelling is just on top of the cliff and following to the sea. Each and every early morning, I watched the sun shining above the coastal place and the solar disappearing behind the horizon in the evening. It was such a wonderful house with a whirlpool in the yard. Just about every room has a totally outfitted toilet. There are lots of distinctive varieties of lodging in the location, but you must guide in advance if you plan to have a holiday getaway there.
The greatest vacation bases would be La Rochelle, Ile de Ré, and IIe d’Oleron. If we went there in the summertime, we would insert quite a few seashore actions to our Charente-Maritime itinerary.
How to get there
- You can access Charente-Maritime from five nearby airports: Bordeaux, Nates, La Rochelle, Biarritz, and Limoges.
- Budget travellers can acquire extended-haul buses, for case in point, Paris – La Rochelle or Bordeaux – La Rochelle. Find all the places on the Flixbus website.
- TGV sells tickets from Paris Montparnasse to La Rochell. The trip is about 2H50.
- If you favor to travel, motorways A10 and A83 will just take you to La Rochelle.