Ile de Re - French Island par excellence
My family travelled to our favourite French holiday destination of Ile de Re last summer, easily reached by Ryanair, who operate direct flights from Stansted to La Rochelle.
Our hotel picked us up from La Rochelle’s two-room airport and we crossed the bridge that arches over the Atlantic. After a mere 20 minutes, we had arrived.
The island is a 30km long, flat strip of land with photogenic villages, old ports and pretty sandy beaches. We decided to rent some bikes for the duration of our stay, ideal to cycle round the small island, which is virtually car-free. Tourists are encouraged to park up their cars and explore the island and its many interesting villages, forests and beaches by bike or horseback.
On our first evening, we strolled into the centre of Saint-Martin-de-Re, amidst throngs of other pedestrians. The small capital of Ile de Re is a picturesque place with elegantly weathered buildings, scattered around the pretty port. We wandered past old bikes and parked our Citroen 2CV in search of a suitable Bistro. We noticed the many shades of blue and green and found out that the entire town is classed an UNESCO World Heritage site – hence there were no overhead cables or new constructions to be seen.
My husband enjoyed the quirky antique shops and art galleries where he found a stunning ‘sailing boat picture’ for his study at home.
The next day we decided to cycle to La Flotte’s famous market, where we stocked up on fresh fruit and other local produce. The seafront market, open every day, also sells antiques, bric-a-brac and furniture you wish you could carry home… Ile de Re is world famous for its rock salt that is grown and harvested in Ars-en-Re. After having sampled some ‘steak & frites’ and a nice glass of local wine, we decided to head to the nearby sandy beach for a deserved siesta.
Another time, after our hotel owner had told us that there were oysters and wine to be had along the coastal route, we took to the road again. Every few kilometres we found ‘cabanes’, where families cultivate oysters and served them at picnic tables outside little wooden shacks. We tasted the freshest oysters we ever had, accompanied by a fantastic fishy fish soup with Gruyere cheese.
We continued our bike tour to the lighthouse on the south-west tip of the island with beautiful views across the Atlantic.
My daughter loved her horse riding session on La Plage des Grenettes, whereas my husband and I preferred the quiet spots along the beautiful sandy beach to top up our tans.
Where to stay when in St Martin Du Re, you might ask?
We loved our stay in ‘Le Corps de Garde’, a small boutique B&B on a quiet part of the quay, offering seven delightful bedrooms overlooking the water. Décor is shabby-chic with lace, weathered wood and old furniture. If you are after a more budget friendly option, look no further than ‘Le Galion’ where small, simple but light-filled rooms have great sea views.
We found the best food in St Martin Du Re at ‘Le Serghi’, away from tourist traps, where the stylish terrace let us watch stunning sunsets and overlook the many fishing boats. The food was delicious and great value. Great for a drink or two and some French home cooking in an informal setting was ‘Le Bistrot du Marin’.
I would highly recommend a trip to this laid back and beautiful Ile de Re.
Please contact me for more information or to book your very own ‘vacances’ on this French island par excellence!