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Ile d'Oleron travel guide
Ile d'Oleron, off the Poitou-Charentes coast near Ile-de-Ré, is the largest island off mainland France except for Corsica, at 34km by 15 km. The island is connected to the mainland by a bridge 3km long.
It is a very popular summer holiday destination, above all because of the consistent sunshine and fine beaches on the island.
Apart from the beaches, two of the towns on the island are worth exploring - Saint-Pierre (the capital of the island) to the north; and Le Chateau to the south.
Le Chateau is named after the castle and citadelle and along with the surrounding fortifications these make for an interesting visit to the town.
Other noteworthy towns on the island include Saint-Georges, once home to Eleanor of Aquitaine (who has left her architectural mark on the town); and the little fishing port of La cotiniere to the west of the island.
If you want to escape the thronging masses for a while, head to one of the two forests on the island - the Saumonards forest and the Forest of Saint-Trojan for a little relief.
Final special mention goes to the Grand-Village-Plage, one of several of the attractive beaches on the island.
It has to be admitted that in the summer the island can become rather busy, but if the development and campsites becomes too much, the island is large enough that you can usually find somewhere calm and beautiful to recover yourself! Alternatively visit in June or September for a bit more peace in which to enjoy the pretty surroundings of Ile d'Oleron.
Ile d'Oleron: tourist information, map, travel plans and gites
Visit Ile d'Oleron, France |
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Map of Ile d'Oleron, France |
Travel, hotels and holiday gites, Ile d'Oleron
See the Visit Ile d'Oleron section above for gites and hotels local to the area. For more general French travel options, see the Gites in France listings, or French holidays for other holidays, and Travel to France for ferries, Ile d'Oleron car-hire, eurotunnel, cheap flights etc.
Places to visit - Ile d'Oleron
- Ars-en-Re Most beautiful village
- Brouage 17th century fortifications
- Ile d'Aix Small fortified island
- Ile d'Oleron Island!
- Ile de Re Island
- La Flotte-en-Re Most beautiful village
- La Rochelle Port town
Any places listed above are within about 20-25 km (as the crow flies)
Information and photos of Ile d'Oleron, France
This Ile d'Oleron tourism guide, has information and holidays and photos when available. If you have any photos or relevant information please send them to us! Full credit will be given if they are used.
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