The ile de ré, one of the jewels of the atlantic coast

Linked to the Continent since 1988, Île de Ré has nevertheless remained an island in every sense of the word.

Jewel of the Atlantic coast, the Ile de Ré has preserved all its charm and authenticity. Classed as a protected site, it will win you over with the beauty of its preserved landscapes and villages of green-shuttered white houses, criss-crossed with little alleys where hollyhocks abound.

• Cycling paradise

With more than 100km of cycle tracks, the whole of the Ile de Ré is accessible by bike. Cycling across the marshes in the North of the island, between Ars-en-Ré and Loix is a unique, unforgettable moment. In the middle of these fascinating salt marshes – where a large number of salt makers still work – you will discover flora and fauna proper to the area. The reserve of Lilleau-des-Niges at the Portes-en-Ré groups together nearly 300 bird species. The light here, alternately bright or gentle, is also a real enchantment.

• Beaches, forests and traditional harbours

The long, sandy beaches of the East coast are as much places to relax as to enjoy the wide range of activities on offer, such as sailing, surfing and kite-surfing, that is becoming highly popular here. The forests of maritime pines that line the beaches are also to be discovered. Inland, there are vines, market gardens and forests. Right up in the North, an immense beach awaits you, not far from the famous forest of Trousse-Chemise, mentioned in the song by Nougaro. Ile de Ré also has the very pretty harbours of Saint-Martin and La Flotte – unmissable stopovers on the dream voyage that is the Ile de Ré.

The current configuration of the Ile de Ré is due to the man who, by creating salt-water marshes, worked the landscape and the environment. Located mainly in the north of the Island, the marshes account for 20% of entire surface, that is to say 1.500 ha.

Some are active in the production of salt or are used as refining for oysters, others shelter a remarkable fauna and a flora: these spaces with low height of water represent fish tanks and eels.

Between the marshes, on small islands or with side of the bumps, protected spaces can be posed and nest in all serenity; in certain fields, robust sheep of Scottish origin to black head conscientiously maintain the meadows by grazing salted grass there.

The geometrical drawings formed by the water basins reflect the color of the sky which mixes with the argillaceous bottom, giving birth to strange colours, gray slate, mauve blue or sometimes of the pink. The various seasons see ravelling the colors of the vegetation: yellow of the mustard flowers and the brooms in spring, the white of the ombellifères and the mauve of the lavenders of sea in summer, red of the salicornes to the autumn.

When you walk on foot or by bicycle in the middle of the marshes, all appears monotonous and similar; however, in this space where silence is punctuated cries of birds, all picturesque and is varied.

The reserve of Lilleau of Niges was created in 1980 on old salt-water marshes. Located on one of the main axes of migration of Europe, this natural reserve accomodates hundreds of thousands of birds which find refuge there: attiirés by an important fauna living in the marshes, some benefit from it to make their nest and to reproduce.

Coming from Africa, Siberia, Greenland, Scandinavia or Canada, more than 300 species were observed by the League for the Protection of the Birds which, to be able to index them, carries out their bush setting regularly. The climate being particularly soft in winter, it is at this season that barnacles cravant, curlew ashed, martins fishing or oyster magpie make a stopover, that is to say nearly 40.000 birds. In spring, it is possible to observe tadornes of Belon oyster, stilts white, elegant avocets, terns pierregarins or, with more chance, rare gorgebleues with mirror. At the end of the summer, the ospreys, the brushes garzette and the ibis crowned point their nozzle, after the departure of the tourists.

On the way which connects the Doors to Ars, of the teaching panels the birds describe which it is possible to foresee; in summer, points of observation are installed and any curious person can look through binoculars the species present.

Best conditions to see the birds Rather in winter and in spring which are periods of strong migration, and rather in the marshes with high tide: when the sea is low, the mudholes of Trusting of Ars become irresistible surfaces of picnic abounding in easily accessible food. And the cries of the birds will say to you where they are…

Magnificent and very useful, dunes embellish the Rétais scenery for over 20 kilometres.

They are the ideal setting for iodised walks or an introduction to the pleasures of the beach: here is an open space to be preserved! Marram grass is planted so as to protect dunes from climatic attacks.

Branches on the soil and "garnivelles" - lattice fences - are used to stabilize the sand.

"Sand dunes‏ I love admiring them but I never climb them. It's forbidden and anyway I want to protect them!"

During the Iron Age, the forest covered nearly the whole island and today it is here again.

Over 400 hectares managed by the Office National des Forêts!

It is a feast for walkers, and riders, eyes.

Thanks to the superb climate numerous Mediterranean species wonderfully develop. In the nice forest of Trousse-Chemise and elsewhere.

"Our forest‏ What an extraordinary heritage! It's so important, On Ré, it limits soil erosion due to wind and contributes to the protection of sand dunes."

• Regattas

The nautical centers of the Fleet, Daint Martin and Ars organize during the summer several regattas in which take part of many boats of cruising or race: between August and June, 14 regattas join together approximately 150 boats, that is to say more than 400 participants. Here, when one speaks about regatta, one associates immediately with it Tofinou, the traditional sailing ship of the Ile de Ré. For 21 years, Blue Wind Cup has been the event impossible to circumvent of the summer during which about thirty tofinous clashes. Pretext of exit for some, desire for measuring itself with other boats, such is the spirit of these regattas rétaises.
* Centre-boards
Board with sail, optimist, centre-board or catamaran: any navigator beginning or senior will find the courses and the training courses of his choice suggested by the schools of veil and the nautical centers installed on the Island. For those which prefer the dry land, they can make sand yacht, the vastness beaches with low tide allows it. There is no age to be put at the veil! It is also possible to rent during a few hours or at the day a catamaran with or without skipper to make a turn of the Island, to discover the bench of the Logger and the Proud ones of Ars.

• Boats walk

To discover an island by the sea is one moment magic; since the landing stages of Martin Saint or Rivedoux, high-speed motorboats carry out several circuits at the day between Breton sluice and sluice of Antioche. These boats accost with the foot of the Towers of the La Rochelle, starting point of a walk on the ramparts and the port. They also accost in the Island of Aix, savage and preserved, only accessible by sea, and approach Fort Boyard, the “stone vessel” conceived to defend the arsenal of Rochefort.

• Kayak

For a traditional exit at sea, many clubs have kayaks. For a more original exit, it is possible to take a canoe to discover the salt-water marshes on the side of Loix. Quiet and quiet, respectful walk of the environment, rocked by the noise the oars which split water, by the cry of the birds which elected residence in the marshes or by the unexpected jump of a fish: young people and less young people, sportsmen and less sportsmen, this activity is opened with all in love ones with nature.

• Surfing/kite

The waves of certain beaches of the Island attract the amateurs of surfing, this sport knowing a new passion: they can be thrown in the waves of the beach of Grenettes de Sainte Marie de Ré, with the Small Nozzle and the Point of Lizay to the Doors in D. Initiation or improvement, a school of surfing ensures the hiring of the material and the courses the beach of Large Snap ring to the Wood-Beach.

More recent activity and under development strong, the kite surfing requires wind - to tractor draw the kite - and space - for safety. Schools of kite surfing are located on the beach of Sablanceaux at Rivedoux, with the point of Grouin with Loix, and Gros Snap ring with the Doors in D.

And its rich and glittering historic and architectural past!

Here life first appeared in the Middle Paleolithic period, and the turbulent past and various invasions allowed the edification of a particularly prestigious heritage.

Discover the ten welcoming and typical villages of the island bearing witness to its history!

* The fortifications Vauban of Saint Martin de Ré on the list of the worldwide heriage of UNESCO