islands
Business groups
At the gateway to La Rochelle, 3 islands, 3 atmospheres. The nearest, Île de Ré, is accessible via the bridge (free for pedestrians and cyclists) and is bathed in the clear, warm waters of the Gulf Stream. With its sandy beaches, white houses, hollyhocks and mimosas, salt marshes and typical villages, vineyards and forests of maritime pines and holm oaks, the Île de Ré has more than one attraction to seduce day-trippers and vacationers alike. The eastern part of the island is farmed: early vegetables, vines and the famous pommes de terre grenailles.
islands
oléron
oléron
bus operators
Just an hour from La Rochelle, the Ile d'Oléron is accessible via a free bridge open 24/7. At 30 km long and 6 km wide, it is the largest island in the archipelago. Beaches, oyster basins, marshes, state forests, dunes, cliffs... so many different places on the same territory. The ocean provides a fantastic playground for a wide range of water sports. The island has an eastern coastline, gentle and ideal for family bathing, and a wild coastline, more exposed to the wind and waves, ideal for surfing.
Aix
Sports teams
Accessible only by sea (maritime links from La Rochelle's Vieux Port), Île d'Aix is surrounded by fortifications and features small white houses bordered by hollyhocks. Beaches, wild creeks, undergrowth and vineyards dot the landscape, which can be explored on foot, by bike or even in a horse-drawn carriage. The "sentier des douaniers" (customs path) takes you all the way around the island. From the jetty, you can see Fort Boyard. Built to guard the mouth of the Charente and protect Rochefort's arsenal, this enormous stone vessel has become the setting for the TV game show Fort Boyard.
Aix