The art of living on Île de Ré

Everything you need for a well-deserved break

Here, we take our time!

Cycling is the island’s main activity for locals and visitors alike. Kilometres of cycle paths allow you to explore the island by bicycle while admiring the scenery. Cycling is a wonderful way to see the island from a different perspective, to explore the coastline and enjoy its natural beauty, where ocean and salt marshes meet.

On foot, the charm of Île de Ré’s narrow streets is sure to delight you, whatever the time of year. The typical cobbled streets change with the seasons. Sometimes filled with hollyhocks, bursting with colour, and sometimes bathed in enchanting light, the maze-like streets are an invitation to slow down, lose track of time, walk, look around and simply escape.

Good times and good company

The island has an abundance of markets, an ideal opportunity to take quality time for yourself. Meet new acquaintances, talk to local producers, buy local and seasonal food, all the ingredients for a pleasant, friendly experience. What could be better than buying a dozen oysters and some fresh vegetables for lunch ?

After enjoying some food, why not relax on a café terrace in one of the authentic Île de Ré villages ? Whether you’re visiting for a day or a regular on the island, a chat about local life or your holiday plans is often a must.

The art of living à la rétaise also means taking time to enjoy the beach on long summer days, and simply breathing in the fresh sea air even in the winter. The long stretches of fine sand offer the perfect opportunity to challenge yourself with a range of sports and water sports activities. Surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing… You’re sure to find what you’re looking for! Shore fishing is also very popular, as are evening walks along the seafront to admire the rhythm of the waves and the ever-changing colours of the sunsets.

A perfectly-sized island to get away from it all

An island of encounters and passion

You’ve arrived on the island ! Now it’s time to let yourself be carried away by the art of living à la rétaise, which has so much to offer. Embrace the experience of meeting local people and the craftspeople who work every day to shape what makes the island so special.

Imagine yourself, for example, on an early morning walk through a vineyard as the first rays of the sun are reflected in the dew droplets on bunches of grapes around you. You’ll be able to talk to passionate winegrowers who have been on the island for years, and are eager to share their passion and expertise with you. They will open up their world for you to understand and experience with all your senses.

Nature at the heart of island life

To connect with nature, so precious and well-preserved on the island, there’s nothing like discovering it alongside the people whose livelihoods are rooted in it. During your stay, you may have the chance to etthe . Employed on the island, their mission is to help conserve the island’s natural environment and its wonders. They organise a series of educational outings to help you understand the different natural environments making up the island. To discover Île de Ré is to immerse yourself in its art of living, and in its surrounding biodiversity.

Once you’re here, visit the different museums to learn more about the history and life of the island, its traditions and local know-how. The Ernest Cognacq museum in Saint-Martin-de-Ré, for example, traces the history of the island from its earliest settlements to the present day. The tour covers trade, fortifications, the penal colony and the rise of tourism. The Platin museum in La Flotte, a warm and vibrant cultural venue, places the island and its inhabitants at the heart of their own history, through a collection of memories and the presentation of the arts and traditions of Île de Ré.

L’A.N.C.R.E. Maritaise in Sainte-Marie-de-Ré showcases the island’s rich natural heritage and heritage sites. La Maison du Fier in Les Portes-en-Ré, nestled in the heart of the Lilleau des Niges nature reserve, takes you on a discovery of the island’s biodiversity, binoculars in hand… So don’t wait any longer. Discover the destination’s museums and heritage sites!