Discovering the Charente Maritime
The Charente Maritime region has an exeptionally rich natural and historical heritage. Take a stroll along the ocean side and enjoy the particular light, empty your mind on one of the beautiful sandy beaches of the islands of Ré, Oléron and Aix as well as those of Chatelaillon, Royan etc..., admire the saltmarshes and the famous oysterparcs.
The Charente Maritime area has got a very rich natural and historic heritage.
Walk along the sea side with the very particular sunlight and relax on the sandy beach of Chateilaillon or Royan and the islands of Ré, Oléron and Aix. Walk between the salt marshes and oyster beds.
Practice nautical sports like windsurfing, kite surfing, canoeing, yachting and many more.
Visit the nature sites of Charente Maritime which set the harmony between men and nature.
- The bird marshes in Dolus d'Oléron
- The Crazannes Stone in Crazannes (history of this famous stone, sculpture workshop, museum...)
- L'Asinerie du Baudet de Poitou in Dampierre sur Boutonne (place where the Poitou Donkey is raised)
- Vitrezay à Saint Sorlin de Cognac
- Poitevin Marshes in Taugon
- The Museum of oysters in Marennes (an educational tour to find out about growing oysters)
A lot of places bare witness to the history and the geostrategy of the Charente Maritime area: the Boyard and Enet Forts, the Fortifications of Vauban in Aix and Brouage, the Royal Boats Rope Manufactory in Rochefort and La Rochelle.
Don't forget about the archaeological Gallo-roman site in Fâ and the amphitheatre of Saintes.
Walk or ride a bike or horse to the typical villages and their lovely churches, chapels, abbeys and other Roman architecture monuments. In the countryside, fall for the amazing palette of colours of the wheat, colza, and oat fields, the vines and the woods.
Gastronomy
The Charente Maritime is well known for Marennes Oléron Oysters (labelled IGP: Protected Geographic Indication), the Island de Ré for potato, Marans for samphire and eggs, Pont l'Abbé d'Arnoult for mogette (local bean), Charente-Poitou for butter (made with pasteurized cream).
Taste l'éclade of mussels (mussels cooked on a bed of pine needles and laurels leaves).
And for dessert, choose the jonchée made with curd and served on a mat of reeds or the galettes de Beurlay.
Main Events
- Les Francofolies in la Rochelle (famous musical festival)
- Le Grand Pavois, La Rochelle
- International Festival, la Rochelle
- Les Sites en Scènes
- The Abbey festival in Les Dames de Saintes
- The Rides of the Seudre River of the Royan-Atlantique area
