Natural heritage

Situated 50 metres from the beach, close to the village of Les Portes-en-Ré and the Lilleau des Niges nature reserve, Le Phare is the perfect base camp for exploring the hidden treasures of the Ile de Ré. Enjoy a privileged location for your next holiday on the Ile de Ré, in Charente-Maritime. Le Phare is just a few minutes by bike from the famous village of Les Portes-en-Ré. 

The villages on the Ile de Ré 

• Saint-Martin-de-Ré: Unique in terms of its dimensions, a semi-circle with a radius of 1.5 km and more than 14 km of ramparts, the urban walls of Saint-Martin-de-Ré were designed to shelter the entire population of the island in the event of an enemy landing. Built between 1681 and 1685, the Vauban fortifications of Saint-Martin-de-Ré have been on UNESCO's World Heritage List since 2008. Surrounded by its fortified ramparts, Saint-Martin is the island's historic capital. There are plenty of things to see and do here, including the Ernest Cognacq Museum and rides on the famous donkeys, to the delight of children.
• Saint-Clément-des-Baleines: Bordered by the island's largest sandy beach, Plage de la Conche, Saint-Clément is also home to one of the island's most visited tourist attractions: the Phare des Baleines and its museum.
• Ars-en-Ré: With its market and famous bell tower, Ars-en-Ré is listed as one of France's most beautiful villages. It's a must-see on the island, with its harbour and pretty little streets lined with hollyhocks.
• Loix: A 670-hectare village, Loix is home to the salt marsh eco-museum and the craft village, where you'll find a soap factory, a honey factory and a goat dairy.
• Le Bois-Plage: This is where you'll find one of the island's finest markets, open every morning from April to September.
• La Flotte: The Musée du Platin, the Fort de la Prée and the Abbaye des Châteliers are the 3 places not to be missed in the island's oldest village. And don't forget the market in summer.
• Sainte-Marie-de-Ré: If you're heading to Sainte-Marie, we recommend the 5 Landscapes Trail at La Noue, where the flora and fauna intermingle.
• Rivedoux: The first village on the island, Rivedoux is renowned for its many oyster beds and ‘La Redoute de Sablanceaux’, built by Vauban in the 17th century.

The Beaches

The island of Ré is above all kilometres of fine sandy beaches.

The best beaches are located on the south and west sides of the island: long beaches protected by dunes or forests, they are more suitable for swimming than the north, where there are more small rocky coves. The most pleasant beaches are to be found between the Phare des Baleines and Les Portes-en-Ré, as well as at Bois-Plage en Ré.

Salt marshes

Salt farming was the main economic activity on the Ile de Ré from the 12th to the 19th century. The techniques used to farm the salt marshes, land reclaimed from the sea, have changed little since then and still shape the landscapes of the Ile de Ré.

The markets

The island of Ré is famous for its many markets. Some of them even operate every day in the morning, all year round; this is the case in La Flotte, Rivedoux and Sainte Marie.

In all the other villages on the island, they operate daily during the tourist season. You'll find oysters and shellfish, fish, wine, fruit and vegetables and, of course, salt from the Ile de Ré, as well as clothes and fancy souvenirs...