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

Our Charente-Maritime itinerary was an improvised holiday break in France. Bordered by 5 French departments, Charente-Maritime enjoys a delicate local weather and is 1 of France’s most popular destinations. Its Atlantic coastline has 463 km of shoreline, of which 230 km on the islands, this kind of as Ile d’Oléron reverse of Bourcefranc-Le-Chapus and Ile de Ré joined to La Rochelle. And a few rivers, the Charente, the Seudre, and the Sèvre Niortaise, cross the region’s lush inexperienced countryside. Perched on the hills, the vineyards in Charente-Maritime deliver some of the most famed spirits in the planet, this kind of as Remy Martin and Hennessy.

In Germany, schools have Easter holiday seasons, but not in France. For that reason, we experienced a very good time checking out this fewer crowded and much less highly-priced location devoid of stress. We could not plan our Charente-Maritime itinerary right before our getaway. Soon after the holiday getaway, we understood how lots of functions we experienced accomplished within just a week. Under is the depth of our a person-7 days Charente-Maritime Itinerary:

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

1^st Day: IIe d’Oleron

Beach strolling

From Bourcefranc-Le-Chapus, we passed the very long bridge connected to the island and turned to the left toward the Forest of Saint-Trojan. The beach front, Plage de Saint-Trojan-les-Bains, is at the rear of the forest. I walked on the wide seashore aimlessly, looking at the waves rippling carefully. There was no clump of seaweed washed on the beach front. Seeking much out, I observed a line of nickel-silver, the horizon! 

Various pretty beaches stretch kilometres along the blue Atlantic, a paradise for beachgoers in the summer. 

Stroll all around the imposing ramparts around the citadel of Le Château-d’Oléron 

The citadel and ramparts bordering the medieval district of Le Château-d’Oléronare are available calendar year-round. The ramparts of the web-site offer you a panoramic see of the Purely natural Reserve of Moëze-Oléron. It is appealing to observe how the tides alter the landscape of the port. 

Investigate colourful oyster huts

All around lunchtime, we strolled in the port of Château-d’Oléron and incredibly found quite a few vibrant huts, Cabanes de créateurs (the designer huts). They employed to be oyster huts. The artists, from sculptors, and jewelers, to cutlers, have been establishing and repainting these huts for a long time. My eyes have been drawn to a blue hut, a red just one, and a yellow a single at the waterfront. What a best position for photographers!

Hiking at the northern tip of the island

In the late afternoon, we drove to the northern and experienced a cliff walk all over the lighthouse, the Phare de Chassiron. The spherical stroll all-around the lighthouse rewarded us with rocky coastal sights. Having said that, the sunset was still having difficulties by way of the wet clouds, providing us a lightning likelihood to seize the sights. Some areas have warning indications considering the fact that the cliff has erosions. We experienced to consider safety measures strolling 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 backyard garden, we could see Fort Louvois when it was crystal clear weather conditions. Prior to we took the boat vacation in salt marshes on the IIe d’Oleron, we produced a stopover there. This 17th-century maritime fortification is easy to attain at lower tide on foot and by boat at substantial tide. The road to the fortification was even now damp because the small tide started out and included by seaweed. Thus, the strolling path was incredibly slippery. 

Bost trip in Salt marshes in Le Grand Village Plage

A substantial space of the island is salt marshes. Numerous salt producers welcome people to share their enthusiasm, supplying tours introducing salt farming is effective and historical past. We employed a boat at Le Port des Salines and expended about 45 minutes in the canals amongst the salt marshes. It was a boat rowing action for our son. So, right after the boat vacation, we nonetheless expended some time there viewing the salt marshes on foot. 

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

Ile de Ré 

In the summer time seasons, Ile de Ré is wherever you are going to come across fifty percent of Paris having its getaway there. Strips of uninterrupted golden fluffy sand beach locations go over considerably of the island’s coastline. This small island is connected to La Rochelle by way of a toll bridge.

Around lunchtime, we drove to Plage des bidons V on the western facet and found ourselves virtually by yourself on the seashore, other than two horse riders. There ended up some wild plants on the beachfront, which I could not notify the name. 

La Rochelle

The old harbour of La Rochelle is the centre of the town and is very occupied. But the initially detail that caught my eyes was the graffiti on the partitions. They ended up all large but nicely painted. From the centre of the harbour, we could see three medieval historic towers of LA Rochelle. Just one of them, the Lantern Tower, served as a Lighthouse and jail during its history.

Very well, the strongest impression of this position is the amount of its restaurants. Within the complete aged town, we noticed dining places and bars supplying rapidly foodstuff, do-it-yourself French food stuff, international food stuff, and connoisseur dishes. Considering the fact that most eateries open all over 19:30, we experienced a great deal of time to examine menus. 

4^th  In the vacation property in Bourcefranc

In the early early morning, we woke up and saw big tar-black clouds relocating toward our spot. We experienced a fast look at the place to spend the day but unfortunately acquired that the whole region would be a rainy day. We obtained up early more than enough and had breakfast, hoping the weather conditions transformed mercifully.

Suddenly, I heard the initially splatter of rain tapping on the window, and then the drops had been drumming on the terrace. The rainfall grew to become powerful in the subsequent hour. We experienced planned to take a look at many sites, but none of them experienced excellent weather conditions. So, it was sport actively playing and book looking at working day. 

5^th Cognac Tasting in Cognac, France

Due to the fact the weather conditions turned far better, we had been equipped to adhere to our Charente-Maritime Itinerary, going to the city of Cognac and joined a Cognac Tasting tour. Cognac is not only the famous spirit but also the location the place the spirit is generated. We prepared to see the touristic city and the historic property of Rémy Martin. But regrettably, the household was beneath renovation and getting ready for the future 300 year’s celebration. Discontented with the scenario, we went to its store upcoming door to get cognac as planned.

There, we bought a opportunity to join a cognac tasting tour. The one-tour was not free of charge, but it was the only English tour of the week throughout the off-time. Considering the fact that we were being uncertain which model or solution to purchase, it was a likelihood to know the key of this top 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 top of 64 metres. It was easy to climb up the tower, in spite of of slim stairs. At the time on the top of the lighthouse, we experienced sights of the wonderful coastline and altering dunes.  

Grottes du Régulus

Keep on driving toward the south, and after owning a quick halt at la Palmyre, we determined to have lunch at Royan. Royan is a seaside resort with endless shores of the ocean and its five sandy shorelines proudly flying the Blue Flag. 

Situated 12 km from Royan, the Grottes du Régulus (Caves of Régulus), a municipal troglodyte site, is open up to the public for a handful of months of a yr. There are a couple caves alongside this stretch of coast. But this one particular is a municipal. 

Travel tips for scheduling Charente-Maritime itinerary

Where by to continue to be

We stayed in Bourcefranc-Le-Chapus. The getaway dwelling is just on best of the cliff and upcoming to the sea. Each and every early morning, I watched the sun shining above the coastal spot and the solar disappearing behind the horizon in the night. It was these kinds of a superb property with a whirlpool in the garden. Each individual space has a fully geared up lavatory. There are numerous diverse kinds of lodging in the location, but you really should reserve forward if you program to have a vacation there.  

The very best holiday break bases would be La Rochelle, Ile de Ré, and IIe d’Oleron. If we went there in the summertime, we would incorporate numerous seaside actions to our Charente-Maritime itinerary.

How to get there

• You can reach Charente-Maritime from five nearby airports: Bordeaux, Nates, La Rochelle, Biarritz, and Limoges. 
• Price range travellers can consider prolonged-haul buses, for case in point, Paris – La Rochelle or Bordeaux – La Rochelle. Come across all the locations on the Flixbus web site.  
• TGV sells tickets from Paris Montparnasse to La Rochell. The experience is about 2H50. 
• If you choose to travel, motorways A10 and A83 will take you to La Rochelle.