Our Charente-Maritime itinerary was an improvised getaway in France. Bordered by five French departments, Charente-Maritime enjoys a moderate local weather and is one particular of France’s most well-known locations. Its Atlantic coastline has 463 km of shoreline, of which 230 km on the islands, these kinds of as Ile d’Oléron reverse of Bourcefranc-Le-Chapus and Ile de Ré linked to La Rochelle. And 3 rivers, the Charente, the Seudre, and the Sèvre Niortaise, cross the region’s lush eco-friendly countryside. Perched on the hills, the vineyards in Charente-Maritime create some of the most well known spirits in the planet, these as Remy Martin and Hennessy.
In Germany, schools have Easter holiday seasons, but not in France. For that reason, we experienced a excellent time discovering this much less crowded and fewer highly-priced spot without the need of trouble. We could not approach our Charente-Maritime itinerary in advance of our holiday. Following the getaway, we understood how quite a few functions we had done inside of a week. Under is the element of our a person-7 days Charente-Maritime Itinerary:
- 1st Day: IIe d’Oleron
- 2ed Day: Fort Louvois and Salt marshes on the island of Oleron
- 3rd Day: ile de re (Plage des bidons V) La Rochelle
- 4th Working day: In the holiday break home in Bourcefranc
- 5th Day: Cognac Tasting in Cognac, France
- 6th Day: Dune seaside, Le Phare de La Coubre, la Palmyre, Royan, Grottes du Régulus
1st Working day: IIe d’Oleron
Beach front strolling
From Bourcefranc-Le-Chapus, we handed the prolonged bridge related to the island and turned to the left to the Forest of Saint-Trojan. The seashore, Plage de Saint-Trojan-les-Bains, is behind the forest. I walked on the wide beach aimlessly, seeing the waves rippling gently. There was no clump of seaweed washed on the beach front. Seeking significantly out, I observed a line of nickel-silver, the horizon!
Quite a few pretty beach locations stretch kilometres along the blue Atlantic, a paradise for beachgoers in the summertime.
Stroll close to the imposing ramparts in the vicinity of the citadel of Le Château-d’Oléron
The citadel and ramparts encompassing the medieval district of Le Château-d’Oléronare are available year-spherical. The ramparts of the web site supply a panoramic see of the Normal Reserve of Moëze-Oléron. It is intriguing to watch how the tides adjust the landscape of the port.
Check out vibrant oyster huts
About lunchtime, we strolled in the port of Château-d’Oléron and shockingly found out lots of colourful huts, Cabanes de créateurs (the designer huts). They used to be oyster huts. The artists, from sculptors, and jewelers, to cutlers, have been building and repainting those people huts for yrs. My eyes were being drawn to a blue hut, a pink just one, and a yellow 1 at the waterfront. What a excellent place for photographers!
Hiking at the northern suggestion of the island
In the late afternoon, we drove to the northern and experienced a cliff wander about the lighthouse, the Phare de Chassiron. The spherical walk all around the lighthouse rewarded us with rocky coastal views. Nonetheless, the sunset was nevertheless having difficulties by the wet clouds, offering us a lightning chance to seize the sights. Some sites have warning indications considering the fact that the cliff has erosions. We experienced to just take safeguards walking on the cliffside.
2ed IIe d’Oleron (Fort Louvois and boat excursion in Salt marshes on the island of Oleron)
Fort Louvois
From the backyard, we could see Fort Louvois when it was obvious weather conditions. Just before we took the boat journey in salt marshes on the IIe d’Oleron, we produced a stopover there. This 17th-century maritime fortification is easy to access at low tide on foot and by boat at higher tide. The road to the fortification was however wet given that the very low tide commenced and included by seaweed. Thus, the strolling route was quite slippery.
Bost journey in Salt marshes in Le Grand Village Plage
A big place of the island is salt marshes. Quite a few salt producers welcome visitors to share their enthusiasm, offering tours introducing salt farming is effective and historical past. We hired a boat at Le Port des Salines and put in about 45 minutes in the canals amid the salt marshes. It was a boat rowing action for our son. So, immediately after the boat excursion, we still put in some time there looking at the salt marshes on foot.
3rd ile de re (Plage des bidons V) La Rochelle
Ile de Ré
In the summertime seasons, Ile de Ré is where you’ll uncover 50 % of Paris owning its holiday getaway there. Strips of uninterrupted golden fluffy sand shorelines cover significantly of the island’s coast. This small island is related to La Rochelle by way of a toll bridge.
All-around lunchtime, we drove to Plage des bidons V on the western side and located ourselves just about by yourself on the seaside, other than two horse riders. There were some wild crops on the beachfront, which I could not inform the title.
La Rochelle
The previous harbour of La Rochelle is the centre of the town and is incredibly active. But the very first point that caught my eyes was the graffiti on the walls. They had been all large but properly painted. From the centre of the harbour, we could see 3 medieval historic towers of LA Rochelle. A person of them, the Lantern Tower, served as a Lighthouse and jail through its historical past.
Perfectly, the strongest impact of this put is the amount of its dining establishments. Within the total old town, we noticed dining places and bars supplying quick foods, home made French meals, worldwide foodstuff, and gourmet dishes. Since most eateries open up close to 19:30, we had a good deal of time to examine menus.
4th In the holiday getaway residence in Bourcefranc
In the early morning, we woke up and observed substantial tar-black clouds going towards our place. We experienced a speedy examine in which to invest the day but sadly realized that the entire area would be a rainy day. We bought up early ample and had breakfast, hoping the temperature transformed mercifully.
Out of the blue, I read the 1st splatter of rain tapping on the window, and then the drops ended up drumming on the terrace. The rainfall turned powerful in the following hour. We experienced prepared to stop by numerous spots, but none of them experienced very good temperature. So, it was activity playing and guide examining day.
5th Cognac Tasting in Cognac, France
Since the weather conditions turned improved, we ended up in a position to follow our Charente-Maritime Itinerary, browsing the town of Cognac and joined a Cognac Tasting tour. Cognac is not only the well known spirit but also the place the place the spirit is manufactured. We prepared to see the touristic town and the historic house of Rémy Martin. But sad to say, the home was under renovation and preparing for the upcoming 300 year’s celebration. Discontented with the scenario, we went to its shop subsequent door to invest in cognac as prepared.
There, we obtained a likelihood to be part of a cognac tasting tour. The 1-tour was not absolutely free, but it was the only English tour of the week for the duration of the off-year. Considering the fact that we have been doubtful which manufacturer or item to invest in, it was a prospect 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 peak of 64 metres. It was uncomplicated to climb up the tower, despite of slim stairs. The moment on the top rated of the lighthouse, we had sights of the beautiful coastline and transforming dunes.
Grottes du Régulus
Keep on driving toward the south, and just after acquiring a speedy stop at la Palmyre, we determined to have lunch at Royan. Royan is a seaside resort with infinite shores of the ocean and its 5 sandy beaches proudly traveling the Blue Flag.
Found 12 km from Royan, the Grottes du Régulus (Caves of Régulus), a municipal troglodyte web site, is open to the general public for a several months of a year. There are a number of caves alongside this extend of coast. But this a person is a municipal.
Journey guidelines for setting up Charente-Maritime itinerary
Exactly where to remain
We stayed in Bourcefranc-Le-Chapus. The vacation house is just on top rated of the cliff and next to the sea. Each early morning, I viewed the sunlight shining over the coastal area and the sunshine disappearing driving the horizon in the evening. It was these types of a fantastic house with a whirlpool in the backyard garden. Each home has a fully outfitted bathroom. There are numerous distinct types of accommodations in the location, but you should really e book ahead if you program to have a holiday getaway there.
The very best vacation bases would be La Rochelle, Ile de Ré, and IIe d’Oleron. If we went there in the summertime, we would insert various beach things to do to our Charente-Maritime itinerary.
How to get there
- You can achieve Charente-Maritime from five nearby airports: Bordeaux, Nates, La Rochelle, Biarritz, and Limoges.
- Funds travellers can consider extensive-haul buses, for case in point, Paris – La Rochelle or Bordeaux – La Rochelle. Discover all the destinations on the Flixbus web site.
- TGV sells tickets from Paris Montparnasse to La Rochell. The journey is about 2H50.
- If you desire to travel, motorways A10 and A83 will choose you to La Rochelle.
