Drenched in Sun and Flavor, Ile de Re, France

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Thinking about France, holiday destinations come to mind and topping the list are places like Paris, Nice, and many other cities. Searching for Ile de Re in that list, you will not see it on top, but that doesn’t mean the secret of this wonderful place isn’t slowly getting out.

Drenched in the sun with a flavorful lifestyle, many have come to seek the languid atmosphere of Ile de Re. It should be no wonder: the white-washed walls, town center structures free to walk around, salty view, beaches and many more spectacles.

LOCATION

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Ile de Re is an island in France connected to the mainland, specifically to La Rochelle, through an impressive three-kilometer bridge.

It is located in southern France and known to have some of the Atlantic’s best coastlines together with Ile d’Oleron situated on its south. The island spans only for 30 kilometers in length and 5 kilometers in wideness.

CLIMATE

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Ile de Re is amongst France’s sunniest regions making for an excellent beach vacation. The sun shines the longest in the months of April to August and November. August is its hottest month with an average temperature of 22 degrees Celsius.

Conversely, January is the coldest with an average temperature of six degrees Celsius. The wettest month is October, and you may want to pack extra clothes during these days.

TRANSPORTATION

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For those who are residing outside the country, you can travel to Ile de Re via airplane to international airports in La Rochelle and Poitiers. Flights here include those coming from the United Kingdom, Belgium, Ireland and Portugal.

From the airport, it will be a short drive to the town center, where you can find the transportation to Ile de Re. However, if you are just around France, you can reach La Rochelle via train. Those who are visiting Paris might as well put Ile De Re as their destination after. It will only take under three hours of travel time to reach La Rochelle.

ATTRACTIONS

Saint Martin de Re

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This fortified town and harbor in the northern part of Ile de Re is a great place to start your holiday vacation in the island. Every day has a multitude of activities to choose from, but the bubble of nostalgia couldn’t be punctured by modern times, as whitewashed walls, fortifications, and citadels surround the town reminding people of the 17th century.

These eight-meter-tall, two-meter-thick fortifications were built by an acclaimed French military group, Vauban, and are among the “Vauban fortified sites” protected by the UNESCO. Restaurants, cafes, and boutiques are gathered here, so anyone like the high-heeled Parisians and privileged ones won’t have to worry about anything.

Ars en Re

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Ars en Re, one of France’s “most beautiful villages,” is better visited when the market is full of activity. It opens during Tuesday and Friday mornings all year round, except for July and August when it opens daily.

This will give you plenty of chances to experience the Retois lifestyle as compared to wintertime when the place is very quiet, but if that is what you prefer, then do pay a visit still.

While getting familiar with the town, scramble across winding streets and hollyhocks to find Saint-Etienne Church, also serving as a landmark for any passing vehicles. During summer, grab the opportunity to climb its spires and see the surrounding forest as well as the oyster beds.

La Flotte en Re

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Apart from Ars en Re, La Flotte en Re is also one of the “most beautiful villages in France.” this town share its similarities with the other Ile de Re towns. It is a port town and has the architectural signature of Ile de Re with whitewashed walls and green shutters and hollyhocks.

It also has historical landmarks such as the Fort de La Pree, a Vauban fortification, and Abbey des Chateliers built in the 12th century by the Cisterian monks. The bonus in La Flotte is its interlocking cycle paths.

Riding a bike there could be the most enjoyable activity in La Flotte, as it will bring you to different relaxing paths finishing off into cafes or restaurants to cap off the day.

Southern Beaches

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Ile de Re has two faces: its nostalgic and bustling towns in the north, and it stunning beaches in the south. With ten kilometers of sandy empty coast to choose from, these white-sandy beaches are pieces of peaceful heaven.

Le-Bois-Plage-en-Ré and Phare des Baleines are two of the most popular beaches in the island. The first is popular for kids, while the latter is much quieter with a lighthouse standing 55 meters high, which is the second oldest lighthouse in the country. Another favorite is Rivedoux Plage, wherein plenty of kite surfers are flocking the place.

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Images:

(1.) http://davemeehan.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/photo11.jpg
(2.) http://crepnet.free.fr/images/carte.jpg
(3.) http://lesprises.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/camping-plage-ile-de-re-1575×680.jpg
(4.) http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1Y8WJqBOpwQ/maxresdefault.jpg
(5.) http://www.iledereholidayhouses.com/wp-content/gallery/homepage-slideshow/harbour-st-martin-de-re-3.jpg
(6.) http://i.imgur.com/BwnBZ4P.jpg
(7.) https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-iIsioIG_e2zidA7nN3BpxjU63o7bNZKoBMD3iFlUsT23qq46Ev2zMvY50hVWgHpiQqtuJY-ojw1p4c1ll1Jx5VlxhJUeiWtrrE4zz3cEtCjs9yxuXCjxr3-WeYhH9FvJ0-EJx-ht4b8/s1600/IMG_8938.JPG
(8.) http://www.villasperone.com/photos-sport-activities/kite-surfing-piana-island-sperone-south-corsica.jpg