To find out what events and activities are available during your stay, please download
The program of activities from the 20th until the 26th of april 2024
You can also consult the travel diary designed by Destination Ile de Ré with the "Roadbook" which contains the activities of the week
Sporting activities
Despite being a protected area, Ile de Ré is a fantastic playground for anyone wishing to try out or practice a sport.
Anyone wanting to indulge in water sports or sailing is spoilt for choice, with many sailing schools offering trial lessons or further courses for sailing, catamaran (hobby), windsurfing, surfing, kayaking…
And if Ile de Ré is perfect for cycle rides, it is equally good for horse riding, through the forest or by the sea shore
We recommend a visit to :
- Le CNPA in La Flotte and Rivedoux,
- Le CNAR in Ars-en-Ré,
- Planète Sport et Loisirs, in Loix and Ars-en-Ré,
- Réglisse in Rivedoux,
- Les écuries du Moulin Moreau, in La Flotte,
Heritage and culture
Within an area of only 85 km2, Ile de Ré is so full of treasures and preserved heritage that it was awarded the status of ‘Pays d’Art et Histoire’ in 2012.
This is due in large part to the fortifications erected by Vauban, which make up part of the network of major sites of Vauban’s work, classed as a world heritage site by UNESCO, and thanks to the ancient tower situated at the foot of the famous Phare des Baleines (Whale Lighthouse) which is a designated historic monument, as well as the many bell towers, the most unusual of which is in Ars-en-Ré, and the sea shore fisheries, a real symbol of Ile de Ré’s heritage.
You can discover all these on foot or by bicycle, and most are open to the public:
- Le Phare des Baleines (‘Whale’ lighthouse) in Saint-Clément-des-Baleines
- Le clocher observatoire (bell tower) in Saint-Martin-de-Ré
- Visit the sea shore fisheries at l'ANCRE Maritaise in Sainte-Marie-de-Ré
You can also find out plenty more about the Ile de Ré via exhibitions at the many museums:
- Musée Ernest Cognacq in Saint-Martin-de-Ré
- Musée du Platin in La Flotte
- L'écomusée du Marais Salant in Loix
- La Maison du Fier in Les-Portes-en-Ré
Find out more : Ile de Ré’s heritage
Gastronomy and local produce
The fertile landscape of Ile de Ré means it’s renowned for its authentic products and flavours: salt produced and harvested in the 450 hectares of salt marshes, the oysters cultivated on around 60 oyster farms, the wine, cognac and pineau produced in the 600 hectares of vineyards, and also saffron.
We encourage you to go and meet the local producers who will tell you all about their work and also their love for their traditions.
You can also find many of their products at Ile de Ré’s markets, each one with its own unique feel.
Note that in the summer season, each village has its own daily summer market, you’ll be spoilt for choice!
We recommend a visit to :
- Coopérative des sauniers, (salt merchants cooperative) in Ars-en-Ré
- Coopérative des vignerons, (vineyards cooperative), in Le Bois-Plage-en-Ré
- La Cabane Océane, in La Flotte
- Les copains Bâbord, in La Flotte
- Biocoop at Saint-Martin-de-Ré and Ars-en-Ré
- La ferme des Producteurs Ré Unis, (farmers of Ile de Ré)
Chemin des Guignardes, (next door to the UNIRE vineyard cooperative)
17580 Le Bois Plage en Ré
Tél. : 05.46.69.30.45
And if you don’t feel like cooking, you simply wish to enjoy a great meal where you can taste these fantastic products, here is a selection of restaurants to suit all budgets:
- Ben Hur, Char à huîtres in Saint-Martin-de-Ré
- La Cible, in Saint-Martin-de-Ré
- Le V, in Ars-en-Ré
- La Cabane du Feneau, in La Couarde-sur-Mer
- Le Richelieu, in La Flotte
- L'Océan, in Bois-Plage-en-Ré
- La Chaloupe, in Rivedoux-Plage