The foreshore (estran or platin)

The part of the coastline that is exposed at low tide. This fragile natural area is home to a great deal of biodiversity. To find out more, click here.

The straits (pertuis) of Île de Ré

These are narrow maritime straits between the islands and the mainland on France’s Atlantic coast. The Pertuis d’Antioche is located between Île de Ré and Île d’Oléron. It links the Atlantic Ocean to the port of La Rochelle, and is an important maritime route for local shipping. The Pertuis Breton is located between Île de Ré and the mainland. Leisure boats access the region’s ports, notably La Rochelle and Rochefort. Note that the Pertuis Breton is not used for commercial or fishing purposes, only for leisure boats.

The Fier d’Ars inland sea

A fier is an inland sea. It refers to stretches of salt water that communicate with the sea via channels or narrow passages, often influenced by the tides. Fiers play an important ecological role as transition zones between marine and land environments, providing habitats for a variety of plant and animal species. The Fier d’Ars is surrounded by salt marshes, meadows and dunes. It is renowned for its rich biodiversity, attracting numerous species of migratory birds.

Lighthouses on Île de Ré

The island is famous for its lighthouses, notably the Phare des Baleines in Saint-Clément-des-Baleines and the Phare de Chauveau near Rivedoux-Plage. The Phare des Baleines lighthouse, built in 1854, is an iconic landmark, standing 57 m tall and guiding many a ship through the rough waters of the Rochebonne plateau.

The call of the sea | Destination Île de Ré – Official Tourist Office Website

Boat trips around Île de Ré

Set sail!

Depending on the weather and tide times, many boat trips are organised from April to October.

Île de Ré and La Rochelle are linked by the maritime shuttle between the old port of La Rochelle and Saint-Martin-de-Ré. You can also go on a boat trip to the Île d’Aix or around the famous Fort Boyard (boats are allowed to get close to Fort Boyard but are not able to moor there).

Other boat trips on Île de Ré include excursions along the island’s north coast towards the Pertuis Breton. These depart from the ports of La Flotte or Saint-Martin-de-Ré and last from 2 to 4 hours, or even a full day. Depending on the weather conditions, your skipper may even suggest you take a dip in the ocean for a fresh, invigorating experience!

Discover Île de Ré landscapes by boat

A boat trip along the island’s north coast is an ideal way to admire the island’s landscapes from the ocean. It is a chance to appreciate the island’s natural beauty, and enjoy unspoilt countryside combining ocean and sandy beaches as far as the eye can see.

The island can offer vivid displays of colour, with striking contrast between the azure blue and the green of the pine forests, like the view of Plage de Trousse Chemise, and the colourful, changing spectacle in the salt marshes depending on the time of day. In the evening, the natural setting is at its most beautiful when the sky takes on vibrant colours at sunset.

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Proue Bateau Voile Laila Alleron
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Laïla Alleron

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Outing Sailing Ocean Laila Alleron
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Laïla Alleron

Celebrating special events at sea

The ocean is an unforgettable place to celebrate special moments in life.

Take your team out for a corporate event, or celebrate a family event at sea. The setting will make the experience even more memorable. Imagine taking a break from the pace of everyday life, or enjoying a coffee in the Fier d’Ars area with family and friends. You can get creative, too, by organising a birthday party, a hen party or a stag do out on the ocean.

If you love sailing, you can bring your own boat or rent one. The harbours of Ars-en-Ré, La Flotte, Rivedoux-Plage and Saint-Martin-de-Ré offer boat launch areas or visitor moorings. Request approval beforehand from the harbour office.

The ocean in everyday life

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Passagere Bateau Ile De Re Clo Et Clem
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Clo et Clem

The ocean in everyday life

The ocean is closely linked to daily island life on Île de Ré, through culture and gastronomy. Understanding this link allows you to immerse yourself more deeply in the Île de Ré way of life, and better appreciate your stay.

Timeless moments by the ocean

You can spend hours by the sea, relaxing, playing, having picnics, swimming, surfing, or running, and go for invigorating walks in cooler weather. Walking along the seafront between villages is an established part of island life, and visitors naturally join in.
Fishing is also popular all year round, depending on weather conditions and respecting the exceptional natural setting. The wilder beaches with their rocky foreshore add to the poetry of the island.

Discover a marine biodiversity as beautiful as it is fragile

The ocean around Île de Ré is home to a rich and varied biodiversity, including salt marshes, wetlands and reefs. These ecosystems play a crucial role in preserving marine biodiversity, and are essential to local activities such as salt production. The natural areas are fragile, and it is important for visitors to play their part in conserving them through simple actions, such as staying on the designated footpaths to get to the beach, and respecting the ecosystems when walking along the foreshore.

Île de Ré gastronomy influenced by the ocean

Seafood, fish, oysters and mussels are the key ingredients in Île de Ré cuisine. Traditional recipes have been handed down from generation to generation. Aquaculture, particularly oyster and mussel farming, is a major component of the local economy. Oyster beds shape the island’s coastal landscape, as do the salt marshes in the north of the island.

Île de Ré is also renowned for its fish locks, local horseshoe-shaped low walls built along the coastline, which are designed to trap fish. Fish enter with the incoming tide and are retained in the fish lock as the tide goes out. These traditional structures are still in use today, and bear witness to the maritime know-how of the island’s inhabitants.

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Oysters Rivedoux Pont Les Coflocs
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Les Coflocs

Did you know?

The island of Ré is also renowned for its fish locks, long horseshoe-shaped seaside walls and local stone traps built along the coastline to catch fish at low tide. These traditional structures are still in use today, and bear witness to the maritime know-how of the island’s inhabitants.

Some maritime terms

The foreshore (estran or platin)
The straits (pertuis) of Île de Ré
These are narrow maritime straits between the islands and the mainland on France’s Atlantic coast.
The Pertuis d’Antioche is located between Île de Ré and Île d’Oléron. It links the Atlantic Ocean to the port of La Rochelle, and is an important maritime route for local shipping.
The Pertuis Breton is located between Île de Ré and the mainland. Leisure boats access the region’s ports, notably La Rochelle and Rochefort.
Note that the Pertuis Breton is not used for commercial or fishing purposes, only for leisure boats.
The Fier d’Ars inland sea
A fier is an inland sea. It refers to stretches of salt water that communicate with the sea via channels or narrow passages, often influenced by the tides. Fiers play an important ecological role as transition zones between marine and land environments, providing habitats for a variety of plant and animal species.
The Fier d’Ars is surrounded by salt marshes, meadows and dunes. It is renowned for its rich biodiversity, attracting numerous species of migratory birds.
Lighthouses on Île de Ré

Island festivities

On Île de Ré, numerous festivities highlight the island’s maritime history and heritage from May to September, such as the sea and shellfish festivals in Saint-Martin-de-Ré, the harbour festivals in La Flotte and the sardine festival in Ars-en-Ré. These events strengthen the connection with our local culture.

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