6-Day Charente-Maritime Itinerary: Spring Holiday in France

Our Charente-Maritime itinerary was an improvised holiday break in France. Bordered by five French departments, Charente-Maritime enjoys a gentle climate and is a person of France’s most preferred places. Its Atlantic coastline has 463 km of coastline, of which 230 km on the islands, these as Ile d’Oléron opposite of Bourcefranc-Le-Chapus and Ile de Ré linked to La Rochelle. And a few 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 deliver some of the most renowned spirits in the world, these as Remy Martin and Hennessy.

In Germany, educational facilities have Easter holiday seasons, but not in France. For that reason, we had a excellent time checking out this significantly less crowded and less pricey place without having trouble. We could not strategy our Charente-Maritime itinerary prior to our vacation. Just after the getaway, we realized how numerous things to do we had finished inside of a week. Beneath is the depth of our just one-7 days Charente-Maritime Itinerary:

• 1^st Day: IIe d’Oleron
• 2^ed Working day: Fort Louvois and Salt marshes on the island of Oleron
• 3^rd Day: ile de re (Plage des bidons V)  La Rochelle
• 4^th Working day: In the holiday getaway residence in Bourcefranc
• 5^th Day: Cognac Tasting in Cognac, France
• 6^th Day: Dune beach front, Le Phare de La Coubre, la Palmyre, Royan, Grottes du Régulus

1^st Working day: IIe d’Oleron

Seashore walking

From Bourcefranc-Le-Chapus, we handed the lengthy bridge linked to the island and turned to the left to the Forest of Saint-Trojan. The beach, Plage de Saint-Trojan-les-Bains, is driving the forest. I walked on the vast beach front aimlessly, looking at the waves rippling carefully. There was no clump of seaweed washed on the seashore. On the lookout considerably out, I noticed a line of nickel-silver, the horizon! 

Various lovely beach locations extend kilometres together the blue Atlantic, a paradise for beachgoers in the summertime. 

Stroll all over the imposing ramparts in the vicinity of the citadel of Le Château-d’Oléron 

The citadel and ramparts surrounding the medieval district of Le Château-d’Oléronare are obtainable year-round. The ramparts of the site offer you a panoramic see of the Natural Reserve of Moëze-Oléron. It is exciting to check out how the tides adjust the landscape of the port. 

Check out colourful oyster huts

All-around lunchtime, we strolled in the port of Château-d’Oléron and incredibly identified many vibrant huts, Cabanes de créateurs (the designer huts). They applied to be oyster huts. The artists, from sculptors, and jewelers, to cutlers, have been establishing and repainting those huts for yrs. My eyes had been drawn to a blue hut, a pink one particular, and a yellow 1 at the waterfront. What a best spot for photographers!

Hiking at the northern idea of the island

In the late afternoon, we drove to the northern and experienced a cliff walk all-around the lighthouse, the Phare de Chassiron. The round walk all-around the lighthouse rewarded us with rocky coastal sights. Nonetheless, the sunset was continue to having difficulties by the wet clouds, supplying us a lightning possibility to seize the sights. Some sites have warning indications because the cliff has erosions. We had to choose safety measures going for walks on the cliffside.

2^ed IIe d’Oleron (Fort Louvois and boat vacation in Salt marshes on the island of Oleron)

Fort Louvois

From the yard, we could see Fort Louvois when it was very clear temperature. Before we took the boat trip in salt marshes on the IIe d’Oleron, we manufactured a stopover there. This 17th-century maritime fortification is effortless to reach at minimal tide on foot and by boat at substantial tide. The street to the fortification was even now damp considering the fact that the lower tide began and coated by seaweed. Therefore, the going for walks path was pretty slippery. 

Bost journey in Salt marshes in Le Grand Village Plage

A huge area of the island is salt marshes. Various salt producers welcome visitors to share their passion, supplying tours introducing salt farming functions and history. We employed a boat at Le Port des Salines and expended about 45 minutes in the canals amid the salt marshes. It was a boat rowing exercise for our son. So, following the boat journey, we continue to spent some time there seeing the salt marshes on foot. 

3^rd ile de re (Plage des bidons V)  La Rochelle

Ile de Ré 

In the summer months seasons, Ile de Ré is the place you are going to come across half of Paris possessing its holiday getaway there. Strips of uninterrupted golden fluffy sand beaches include a great deal of the island’s coastline. This small island is linked to La Rochelle by using a toll bridge.

All over lunchtime, we drove to Plage des bidons V on the western facet and found ourselves approximately alone on the beach, other than two horse riders. There were being some wild plants on the beachfront, which I could not notify the title. 

La Rochelle

The outdated harbour of La Rochelle is the centre of the city and is really occupied. But the initially issue that caught my eyes was the graffiti on the partitions. They have been all enormous but nicely painted. From the centre of the harbour, we could see 3 medieval historic towers of LA Rochelle. 1 of them, the Lantern Tower, served as a Lighthouse and jail in the course of its heritage.

Perfectly, the strongest effect of this area is the variety of its eating places. Inside the entire previous city, we noticed eating places and bars giving speedy food stuff, do-it-yourself French food, intercontinental food stuff, and gourmet dishes. Considering that most eateries open all over 19:30, we had a lot of time to look at menus. 

4^th  In the holiday dwelling in Bourcefranc

In the early morning, we woke up and saw substantial tar-black clouds relocating to our area. We experienced a swift look at where to expend the working day but regrettably uncovered that the complete spot would be a wet working day. We bought up early adequate and experienced breakfast, hoping the climate transformed mercifully.

Abruptly, I listened to the very first splatter of rain tapping on the window, and then the drops have been drumming on the terrace. The rainfall became intense in the subsequent hour. We had prepared to pay a visit to many destinations, but none of them experienced excellent climate. So, it was recreation actively playing and ebook studying working day. 

5^th Cognac Tasting in Cognac, France

Simply because the climate turned superior, we have been equipped to adhere to our Charente-Maritime Itinerary, visiting the city of Cognac and joined a Cognac Tasting tour. Cognac is not only the famed spirit but also the position where by the spirit is developed. We planned to see the touristic town and the historic household of Rémy Martin. But regrettably, the property was less than renovation and making ready for the forthcoming 300 year’s celebration. Discontented with the predicament, we went to its shop subsequent door to purchase cognac as prepared.

There, we received a possibility to join a cognac tasting tour. The one particular-tour was not free, but it was the only English tour of the 7 days during the off-period. Because we ended up not sure which manufacturer or solution to invest in, it was a likelihood to know the secret of this quality spirit.

6^th 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 height of 64 metres. It was easy to climb up the tower, in spite of of narrow stairs. When on the prime of the lighthouse, we experienced views of the beautiful coastline and altering dunes.  

Grottes du Régulus

Keep on driving toward the south, and soon after getting a quick stop at la Palmyre, we resolved to have lunch at Royan. Royan is a seaside resort with infinite shores of the ocean and its five sandy beach locations proudly traveling the Blue Flag. 

Found 12 km from Royan, the Grottes du Régulus (Caves of Régulus), a municipal troglodyte web page, is open to the public for a few months of a 12 months. There are a handful of caves along this stretch of coastline. But this just one is a municipal. 

Vacation tips for arranging Charente-Maritime itinerary

The place to continue to be

We stayed in Bourcefranc-Le-Chapus. The holiday getaway dwelling is just on top of the cliff and following to the sea. Each and every morning, I viewed the sun shining above the coastal area and the solar disappearing driving the horizon in the evening. It was these kinds of a excellent dwelling with a whirlpool in the backyard garden. Each place has a totally geared up bathroom. There are lots of distinctive sorts of lodging in the region, but you ought to reserve in advance if you strategy to have a getaway there.  

The ideal getaway bases would be La Rochelle, Ile de Ré, and IIe d’Oleron. If we went there in the summertime, we would add numerous beach activities to our Charente-Maritime itinerary.

How to get there

• You can access Charente-Maritime from five close by airports: Bordeaux, Nates, La Rochelle, Biarritz, and Limoges. 
• Funds travellers can choose lengthy-haul buses, for instance, Paris – La Rochelle or Bordeaux – La Rochelle. Locate all the places on the Flixbus web page.  
• TGV sells tickets from Paris Montparnasse to La Rochell. The experience is about 2H50. 
• If you want to drive, motorways A10 and A83 will consider you to La Rochelle.