Tourism in Charente-Maritime
Nestled between vineyards and the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, the town of Sainte-Marie-de-Ré sets the tone for your stay in Charente-Maritime. Here, our 4-star hotel on Île de Ré, Les Grenettes, welcomes you for an unforgettable vacation in Charente-Maritime. Experience calming holidays, living by the rhythm of the tides and following your desires. From exploring the natural riches of the island to diving into the historical treasures of the region, every day is unique, offering a thousand delights just steps from our apart-hotel on Île de Ré. So, start by casting off and embracing the Rhétais way of life. We have prepared a selection of the best things to do on vacation on Île de Ré for you.
Nature and Landscapes in Charente-Maritime
Charente-Maritime is a region easy to fall in love with, a destination where one can reconnect with nature to cultivate a joy for life. Visitors are charmed by its coastline. Many, for example, visit Huttes Beach to admire the magnificent spectacle of the sunset. A wild natural space battered by the winds, the beach delights both young and old with its bushy dunes and thousands of small shells.
Canoeing is also an interesting way to explore the Charentais nature. It allows for the discovery of exceptional natural sites like the Chauvignac River. Several rental services also offer two-hour sportive tours, for example, towards Fort La Pointe, the Charente estuary, La Vierge Beach, or Pointe de la Fumée; there are also three-hour tours (sometimes longer), from the Charente estuary to Fort Lupin or towards the Yves Bay, among others.
Hiking also enables a deeper acquaintance with Charentais landscapes. The Vallée des Eaux Claires is particularly worth visiting. There, climbing enthusiasts tackle the limestone cliffs, while families walk a flat, shaded interpretive trail.
The Coastline and Its Islands
The Charente-Maritime coastline stretches from the Bay of Aiguillon to the Gironde estuary, covering over 460 km. Along these coasts are some of the region’s most beautiful seaside destinations such as Royan, Fouras, as well as Saint-Palais-sur-Mer, Châtelaillon, and Saint-Georges-de-Didonne. The Charentais coastline is also appreciated for the beauty of its preserved islands: Île de Ré, Île d'Oléron, Île d'Aix, and Île Madame.
There are many exceptional natural sites to discover along the Charentais coasts. Vacationers can enjoy fine sandy beaches and discover splendid "exotic" coves; they also find cliffs, headlands, peninsulas, marsh areas, and large river estuaries.
The Atlantic coastline delights lovers of the great outdoors and endless beaches emerging from the forests. Fishing enthusiasts are also well catered for, with catches including sardines, sea bream, croakers, sole, and oysters. Many other activities await vacationers on the Charentais coastline, including various water sports such as land sailing, water skiing, kitesurfing, and sport fishing on a catamaran.
Festivals in Charente-Maritime
Several Charentais festivals take place during the summer, in July or August.
- Cognac Blues Passion Festival: This festival occurs annually at the beginning of July in Cognac. Concerts featuring blues and African-American influences are performed by several headliners as well as emerging talents.
- Les Francofolies: This festival also takes place at the beginning of July in La Rochelle. It primarily focuses on showcasing contemporary French-speaking music. It also serves as a tool to support young artists through the "Chantier des Francos" and promotes musical and cultural education with the "Francos Educ" program.
- Confolens Festival: Held in August, this event celebrates the folk arts and traditions from around the world in Confolens, featuring music, songs, dances, and folk customs from the five continents.
Charentais Cuisine
The Charentais terroirs offer a palette of flavors to delight the taste buds. Charentais gastronomy partly relies on traditional know-how that talented men and women perpetuate or reinvent. It also owes its reputation to the quality of its vineyards. Visitors have the opportunity to discover major trading houses, learn more about the distillation process of cognac and the subtleties of pineau and local wines; it's also a chance to interact with barrel craftsmen...
There is also much to discover on the seaside. Vacationers might, for example, sit down in an oyster hut to enjoy a beautiful seafood platter. After that, they can embark on exploring the surrounding natural sites, perhaps starting with a visit to salt workers and gold panners in the salt marshes.
Charente-Maritime: A Children's Paradise
Charente-Maritime is perfect for an authentic family vacation. The area includes several idyllic destinations such as Île de Ré and Île d'Oléron, where parents can share numerous activities and experiences with their children. Treasure hunts are among these activities, as well as "time travel" encounters with dinosaurs and prehistoric humans or discovering medieval and Renaissance castles dressed as princesses and knights... It’s also an opportunity for children to learn, for example about how oysters grow or the process of salt harvesting in a Rhétais salt marsh. Laughter and thrills are also part of the agenda, especially on the water park slides or during a ride on an authentic steam train.