Bicycles are the best means to go and discover the riches of the Island of Ré. With its 100 km of biking paths and its absence of elevations, the island is a paradise for bikers, including kids and less sportive users.
His great, great, great grandfather, Nicolas Martiau was born on the Island of Ré in 1591. As a fervent protestant, he went to exile in Great Britain before he crossed the Atlantic to America. By the way, Nicolas Martiau is also an ancestor of Queen Elizabeth II!
Crédit photos : ©Musée Ernest Cognacq
Two golf courses nearby are open all year long for professionals and amateurs of greens ready for discovery: Golf de Trousse-Chemise (9 holes), La Rochelle (18 holes).
The “stone boat”. . . that’s the surname of this fortress because it very much looks like a boat. The old fortress built on a shoal in front of the island of Oléron is today well known by the public at large for the television programme broadcast since 1990. The fortress cannot be visited but it is possible to turn around it by boat. A wonderful sea excursion which will be exciting for lovers of history and fans of the television programme.
The whale lighthouse is dominating the point of the Island of Ré. With its 60 metres height, it unveils a breathtaking panorama view of the island and the ocean. On the same site, you can also visit the ancient lighthouse built by Vauban in the 17th century.
The ramparts of Saint-Martin-de-Ré, inscribed in the World Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, are a unique testimony to the defensive architecture erected by the engineer Vauban. These ramparts, built under the reign of Louis XIV, allowed the city to serve as a shelter for the entire island population in the event of landing by enemies.
<i>Crédits photos : ©Musée Ernest Cognacq</i>
Donkey milk, a beauty secret since antiquity, the elixir of the queens of Egypt, is rare and precious and since time immemorial it has been considered as a magic remedy. The soap works at the Island of Ré let you discover the secrets of making these soaps which boast multiple virtues.
The salt marshes are part of the heritage of the Island of Ré and the Charente region. Apart from the salt harvest, the marshes host many different species of birds and plants like glassworts or sea lavender. These landscapes between land and sea with their breathtaking beauty can be discovered by walking, biking, canoeing or even paddling!
The Tour de Termes in Armagnac is the last remnant of the old medieval palace of the Gascon Thibault de Termes, a fellow soldier of Joan of Arc. From the top of the 36 m dungeon you can enjoy a magnificent panorama view of the valley of the river Adour and the Pyrenees. Throughout the year historical re-enactments and medieval animations are enjoyed by audiences of all ages.
80 km from Eugénie-les-Bains, at the foot of the Pyrenees, the city of Lourdes is one of the main Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world. In 1858 the young shepherdess Bernadette Soubirous testified to the appearance of Virgin Mary in the cave next to Massabielle. Declared “Marian City” by the Catholic church, Lourdes receives every year millions of pilgrims from all over the world. It is also a Pyrenean city full of charm, nestling around its fortress which has hosted since 1921 the Pyrenean Museum and is dominated by the Pic du Jer, which can be accessed by a funicular railway.
Crédit photos : © P. Vincent 15-OT Lourdes
50 km from Eugénie-les-Bains you can discover the city of Pau. Its legendary feudal castle in the heart of the old town is particularly famous for having hosted the birth of Henry IV, King of France and Navarre, in 1553. Today it is a national museum and within its walls it boasts many remnants of the history of France including the tortoise shell which served as cradle for the future King of France.
Near Eugénie-les-Bains, you can find two historical pilgrimage roads of the Way of Saint James: Via Lemovicensis and Via Podiensis. Every year many pilgrims walk over the pavements of these roads which are part of the Unesco World Heritage.
The Regional National Park of La Brière boasts one of the richest wetland zones in Europe in biological terms. Take a tour of these marshes aboard a barge. In this flat bottomed boat guided by a pole, you will perceive all the natural richness and enchanting beauty of the canals.
Fans of ornithology will be more than happy to discover a park which is a privileged sanctuary for many species of migratory birds.
Discover the unbelievable industrial adventure of the city of Saint Nazaire. Its shipyards have created the world’s largest cruise ships: the France, the Normandie and more recently the Harmony of the Seas. The city also hosts a top aerospace industry centre with Airbus, where the front end and central fuselage of the entire Airbus range are assembled, equipped and tested. Take a tour of these impressive production workshops.
Crédit photos : © VBAUZA; © A. Klose
The Jumping International of France, created in La Baule in 1962 under the name of “Grand Prix de La Baule”, is one of the most important international show jumping events. Come and admire the best riders during this annual meeting.
The bay of La Baule offers an ideal playground for sailing sports. Dinghies, kite surf, surfing, paddle… so many water sports activities are proposed by the different sailing clubs of the city to please all the lovers of these sports.
Crédit photos : © Alexandre Lamoureux
La Baule is full of spas and thalasso therapies with a wide choice of individual programmes: wellbeing, relaxation, detox, slimming, fitness… Time to rediscover your body in serenity and softness!
With its 9 kilometres of fine sand, its orientation as a circular arc constituting the Bay of Pouliguen, the beach of La Baule is probably one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe. Between farniente in the sun, activities for kids, clubs for sailing and surfing fans,… beach activities are available for the pleasures of the entire family.
