subject: Head for a holiday on Ile de Re - a French island with a twist [print this page] If you love holidaying in France but you're looking for a destination with a bit of a difference then the Ile de Re just might be the perfect choice. Part of the Charente-Maritime region, it separates itself from the west coast of France by a slim strip of Atlantic Ocean but is only 2.9km away from the mainland so it is easy to access. You get all the joys of living an island life and the benefits of seclusion and privacy but yet you are simply a stone's throw from inland France. La Rochelle is literally a bridge away!
The Ile de Re itself is only 5km wide and 30km long, with a population of a mere 16,000 at its lowest, but it manages to fit a surprising amount into that space. That said, although the island is small it is never crowded, even when the tourists from the mainland come over to explore. Whether you decide to stay on the island itself or over the water, you will find that Ile de Re is somewhere that you want to spend time. And the beauty of it is that everything is so close by so you won't spend most of your holiday travelling from place to place. There is a variety of accommodation, including some stunning self-catering holiday rentals, many of which have idyllic swimming pools to laze around.
Wherever you stay, there are plenty of to occupy your time, particularly if you enjoy outdoor pursuits. Many people would agree that there is no better way to spend a day than on a bike, cycling through the French countryside, stopping at local watering holes for refreshment and feeling the sun on your back. Ile de Re has ten beautiful villages, each of which has something special to offer and all of which are connected by a network of cycle routes. There are 60 miles of cycle paths and the landscape is reassuringly flat so you will have no trouble getting from place to place.
Even if you're not on the back of a bike you cannot miss the picturesque countryside and one of the best ways to explore what rural Ile de Re really has to offer is to set out on foot. A holiday on this French island is a walker's paradise and you can really get lost in a charming and traditional French backdrop. Alternatively, if a beach setting is your idea of a holiday then of course an island is the best place to go! There are sandy beaches and sea views in abundance, and the coastline is also home to a variety of watersports if that's the type of activity that floats your boat, so to speak!
There are so many stunning things to see on Ile de Re, from the Abbaye des Chateliers to the Fort de la Pree, that it may be hard to know where to start. One thing is for sure at the end of a day of cycling and sightseeing you will receive a warm French welcome at any of the islands eateries. What better way to end an evening than by the quayside at Saint Martin, watching the water and lapping up the atmosphere. People don't usually think of France as having islands but this is a discovery you won't want to miss.
Head for a holiday on Ile de Re - a French island with a twist
By: Olly Symonds
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