What to see in France

Ile de Ré in camping mode

Near La Rochelle, discover one of the pearls of the Atlantic coast and Charente-Maritime. The Ile de Ré is a charming mosaic of landscapes, animated by a dozen authentic villages with white houses decorated with hollyhocks. From peaks to beaches, from forests to salt marshes, there is no shortage of natural and heritage curiosities. For your holidays on the Ile de Ré, you can choose from about 50 campsites. Don't hesitate!

With more than 100 km of marked and secure cycle paths, cycling is the best way to get around the Ile de Ré. All the more so as the island is not very large. The elegant curve of a large 3 km long bridge allows you to reach the southern part of the Ile de Ré, the Pointe de Sablanceaux and the Rivedoux beach. Nearby you will notice the remains of the Abbey of Châteliers, founded in 1156, and the Fort de la Prée (1625), the oldest defensive structure on the island.

Campsites on the Ile de Ré

How many campsites are there on Ile de Ré?

You will have a choice of around 50 campsites on the Ile de Ré, spread throughout the island. These are mainly 2, 3 and 4-star campsites. Most campsites on Ile de Ré are small-scale, with between 100 and 300 pitches. In La Flotte-en-Ré, we recommend campsite Les Peupliers ****.

Top class accommodation at Les Peupliers campsite
Top class accommodation at Les Peupliers campsite© LES PEUPLIERS (La Flotte - 17)

What are the advantages of campsites on the Ile de Ré?

Unsurprisingly, the campsites on the Ile de Ré are unique in that they are never far from the sea, and often even very close to a beach! L'Océan ***** campsite in La Couarde-sur-Mer, for example, is just 50 metres from the beach!

At l'Océan campsite, is it beach in the morning and swimming pool in the afternoon? We doubt...
At l'Océan campsite, is it beach in the morning and swimming pool in the afternoon? We doubt...© L'OCEAN (La Couarde-sur-Mer - 17)

Even more practical: campsite Les amis de la plage ****, located in Le Bois-Plage-en-Ré, has its own access to the beach!

Direct access to the beach in front of the campsite les amis de la plage
Direct access to the beach in front of the campsite les amis de la plage© AMIS DE LA PLAGE (Le Bois-Plage-en-Ré - 17)

Another big advantage is that the campsites are often in the middle of nature, among pines and oaks: check out La Bonne Etoile **** in Bois-Plage-en-Ré, a charming family campsite with 200 pitches, or L'île blanche **** in La Flotte-en-Ré, in its vast natural wooded park.

Camping La Bonne étoile in a green setting
Camping La Bonne étoile in a green setting© LA BONNE ÉTOILE (Le Bois-Plage-en-Ré - 17)

 

Stay in a mobile home at campsite l'Ile blanche
Stay in a mobile home at campsite l'Ile blanche© L'ÎLE BLANCHE (La Flotte - 17)

Finally, for a nature holiday, you can rent a bike at your campsite and explore the area via the island's many safe bike paths. Once the car is parked at the campsite, the real holiday has begun!

Which campsites have a water park on Ile de Ré?

The swimming pool of "Camping du Soleil"
The swimming pool of "Camping du Soleil"© CAMP DU SOLEIL (Ars-en-Ré - 17)

 

A third of campsites on Ile de Ré offer their customers a swimming pool. Les Grenettes ***** in Sainte-Marie-de-Ré is one of the campsites with a real swimming pool. We also recommend Camp du Soleil **** in Ars-en-Ré, a campsite with only 100 pitches, located 400m from the beach.

Camping water park Les Grenettes
Camping water park Les Grenettes© LES GRENETTES (Sainte-Marie-de-Ré - 17)

Discover the Ile de Ré during your camping holiday

Citadel and salt marshes

To find out more about the mysteries of the arts and living traditions of the Ile de Ré, with attractive animations, linger at the Maison du Platin in the village of La Flotte.

Then climb to the top of a flamboyant Gothic bell tower to contemplate the harbour citadel of Saint-Martin, the capital of the Ile de Ré, designed by Vauban.

Explained in an ecomuseum, a little further on you will discover a vast expanse of salt marshes, punctuated by tide mills and the magnificent Lilleau des Niges nature reserve.

Pleasant beaches and forests

The Romanesque church of Ars was painted black and white to serve as a landmark for navigators.

On the Pointe du Fier side, enjoy the shades of the Trousse Chemise wood, which borders the Patache beach.

From the Portes-en-Ré, breathe in the fragrances of the Lizay state forest. To the north, the great lighthouse of Les Baleines (57 m) protects a rocky coast hemmed in by sandy conches.

From Saint-Clément, the beaches of the west coast are also attractive, with extended stops at La Couarde, Le Bois-Plage, Sainte-Marie.

Pleasure on the plate

After swimming and walks, taste the fishing products, as well as the mussels and oysters patiently raised on the coast of the Ile de Ré, in very beneficial waters, accompanied by the wines of the local vineyards.

 

 

 

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