It is called Ré la blanche, in reference to the color of its traditional houses. In the Bay of Biscay, opposite the port of La Rochelle, the very touristy Ile de Ré stretches over 30 km long and from 5 km to 70 m wide. It is linked to the mainland by the bridge that bears its name. Its population is multiplied in the summer with the arrival of tourists and secondary residents. The island has been awarded the "Pays d'art et d'histoire" label and is home to 10 charming little villages, beaches, bicycle paths and unspoiled nature. In the undergrowth of maritime pines and holm oaks, maquis and garrigue plants flourish. The ornithological wealth adds to the local biodiversity. The island lives from tourism and maritime resources (oyster farming and yachting) and agriculture (vineyards, market gardening). From the top of the mythical Phare des Baleines, in Saint-Clément-des-Baleines, the climb of 250 steps ensures a sumptuous view. Windy and exposed to the Atlantic swell, the island offers many surfing and windsurfing spots, including the one at Les Grenettes. Without any difference in altitude, it lends itself to cycling, which is in keeping with its ecological orientation. Thalassotherapy, hiking, visits to oyster beds or salt marshes, tasting Pineau and Cognac, and fishing are on the program. You will also appreciate the paved streets lined with charming houses, the landscape of the dunes, the ocean and its tides, the tasting of fish and shellfish. However, the Ile de Ré is somewhat elitist. This destination is not suitable for small budgets.
In summer, the population of Île de Ré increases from 20,000 to 200,000 residents! In addition, from May to November, weekends are full of traffic jams, in one direction and then in the other! So if you are looking for authenticity, it is better to avoid these periods, especially since due to the mild climate enjoyed by the island all year round, the atmosphere generally remains mild in all seasons. It is more the rains that will be to be feared than the cold outside summer. On the island, the mimosas flower in February. If off-season tourism, most campsites are closed, small hotels and guest rooms await you all year round. Bird lovers enjoy three interesting seasons. Nearly 330 species can be observed. In spring and autumn, tens of thousands of migratory birds stop over in the north of the island in the mudflats of the Lilleau des Niges National Reserve. In winter, the Fier d'Ars hosts 50,000 waterfowl.
It is an oceanic climate that prevails on the Ile de Ré. The Ile de Ré enjoys a fairly mild climate thanks to its geographical location and the warm marine current of the Gulf Stream. The island is very sunny, with 2,300 hours of sunshine per year. However, without relief to prevent bad weather, rains are frequent in winter and autumn. In summer, the heat is reduced by the proximity of the sea. In winter, the temperature remains fairly mild and snowfall rare.
