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Le Phare des Baleines
A wonderful panoramic view is offered from the top of the Phare des
Baleines which is 50 meters high, a must for all to visit.
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Only 3 km from the port city of La
Rochelle and attached to that city by bridge since 1988, the Ile de Ré
is graced with a remarkable number of sunny days, rivalling that of
the Côte d’Azur on the Mediterranean Sea.
The Ile de Ré is a tiny island (only 32 km long by 5 km wide)
with a great deal of charm in a unique setting.
The special quality of the light on the Ile de Ré has
attracted many painters who sell their works in galleries and art
shows all over the island. Known
not only for its beaches, the Ile de Ré is particularly appreciated
for its delightful towns and ports with fisherman’s cottages which
cover the island, protected as a classified site by the French
government.
One can easily cross the Ile de Re by bicycle in order to discover the
vineyards, the fine sandy beaches, the salt marshes and the quaint
white cottages on the narrow streets with their hollyhocks and green
shutters. The activity of the ports all over the island are fun to
observe where one can see the fishermen and pleasure boats entering
and leaving the port. The
many gastronomic restaurants and busy cafés cover the island, and the
delightful open markets present their fresh produce and seafood, wines
and other local specialties for sale.
The
Plage de la Conche
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The Plage de la Conche is certainly the
longest and most beautiful beach on the island. It
is less crowded than the others, as it is the furthest from the
mainland and the holiday makers arriving from La Rochelle hesitate to
make the drive, through the summer traffic, to the end of the island.
For those who enjoy windsurfing, the Plage de la Conche is a favourite.
Shady bicycle paths through the pine trees of the Lizay Forest lead
further up the beach towards Les Portes-en-Ré where the bigger waves
are. The odour of the warm dunes and the wooded perfumes of the pine
cones accompany you as you ride.
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