Île de Ré is a long, flat island off the coast of La Rochelle, connected to the mainland by a toll bridge. It is one of the sunniest spots on the French Atlantic coast, and the locals will tell you it gets more hours of sunshine than anywhere north of the Loire.
The island is best explored by bicycle — the terrain is flat, the distances are short, and cycle paths connect the villages and salt marshes. Whitewashed houses with green shutters, hollyhock-lined lanes, and small harbours set the scene. The salt pans around Ars-en-Ré are still worked by hand, and you can buy fleur de sel directly from the producers.
The main villages are Ars-en-Ré, with its distinctive black-and-white church spire, Saint-Martin-de-Ré with its Vauban fortifications, and La Flotte, a pretty harbour village. Beaches line the southern coast, and the northern side faces the quieter mudflats and oyster beds.
