Explore La Rochelle, Rochefort and Oléron island
From your campsite near Saintes Val de Boutonne, all the tourist attractions of the Charente-Maritime region can be reached in less than an hour’s drive. La Rochelle, Rochefort and the Ile d’Oléron are among the region’s must-see destinations: exceptional maritime heritage, breathtaking Atlantic landscapes, generous gastronomy… Each excursion promises its share of memorable discoveries for the whole family. Round off your vacation program with our other suggestions: visit Saintes and Cognac, explore the Marais Poitevin or take the whole family to La Palmyre Zoo. We’ve also put together a top list of things to do in Charente-Maritime.
Visit La Rochelle and Rochefort
La Rochelle, 60 km from the campsite, is one of the most attractive towns in Charente-Maritime. A coastal town facing the ocean, it’s easy to visit on foot or by bike, and reveals itself at every turn.
Start with the Old Port and its famous three medieval towers – the Tour Saint-Nicolas, the Tour de la Chaîne and the Tour de la Lanterne, guardians of the port since the XIVᵉ century – for a dive into the city’s maritime history. Then stroll under the arcades of the historic center, discover half-timbered houses, the majestic Hôtel de Ville and the Saint-Nicolas district with its cafés, art galleries and creative boutiques.
In terms of must-sees, theLa Rochelle Aquarium – Charente-Maritime’s leading tourist attraction – will dazzle young and old alike with its 12,000 species from the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Tropics. The maritime museum and the port of Les Minimes, the leading yachting harbor on the Atlantic seaboard, will round off your day. To plan your stay, visit theLa Rochelle tourist office website. Just 40 km from the campsite, Rochefort, which has been awarded the Ville d’Art et d’Histoire (City of Art and History) label, is also well worth a visit. Founded by Colbert in the XVIIᵉ century, it is home to the impressive Arsenal des mers and its Corderie royale, a listed historic monument. Don’t miss the Maison de Pierre Loti, writer-traveler with an extraordinary destiny, or the Martrou transporter bridge in Échillais. To find out more about activities and visits in Rochefort, visit theRochefort Océan tourist office website.
Discover the island of Oleron: our expedition tips
Just 1h00 from the Val de Boutonne campsite, the island of Oléron is the largest island on the French Atlantic coast after Corsica – and one of the most beautiful to explore! Connected to the mainland by a bridge, it’s ideal for exploring by bike, thanks to the many cycle paths that criss-cross the forests, vineyards, marshes and Atlantic coastline. A charming outing, between forest and beach, with many little nooks and crannies to see.
It was a beautiful day in May, and we were off in the direction of the island of Oléron. The advantage of discovering the island in low season… It’s much less crowded! We decided to stop off in one of the island’s first towns: Le Château-d’Oléron.
A beautiful place, with its colorful fishermen’s huts and oyster beds, which make this little town so magnificent! Climb to the top and admire the sublime Vauban citadel, whose ramparts offer a breathtaking view of the basin. A short tour around the citadel reveals the town’s history. For the superstitious, a tree is said to bring fertility to those who hang a ribbon from one of its branches.
There are plenty of restaurants around the harbor and near the colorful cabanes, to suit all tastes and budgets.
We decide to head off a little further afield to discover other places, encountering villages that are fairly typical of the island, with whitewashed houses, colorful shutters, little flower-filled lanes and a beautiful heritage in all four corners of the island.
The landscapes are all different, with vineyards, marshes and forests to suit every taste. We didn’t go to see them, but the limestone cliffs at Chassiron are well worth a visit, not forgetting, of course, the famous Chassiron lighthouse, which will surely be our next discovery on our return to the island.
One thing’s for sure: if you get the chance to cycle around the island, don’t hesitate! There are cycle paths all along the coast, offering breathtaking scenery. What’s more, it’s much easier to cycle through the narrow streets of the villages.
For Fort Boyard enthusiasts, boat departures are available from Saint-Denis-d’Oléron. And if you’d like to explore the island in greater depth, the guided tours offered by theIle d’Oléron tourist office are always worthwhile: theatrical night tours, storytelling at the port of La Cotinière, Terra Aventura tours… The Ile d’Oléron is a destination full of surprises, color and heritage, well worth the detour from your campsite in Charente-Maritime!
find out more
