Seasons
autumn
After the hustle and bustle of the summer months, the island returns to a slower pace of life in the autumn. Experience the low autumn light on the island's miles of sandy beaches, and explore the island all to yourself. Visit the island's salt marshes, producers of the much prized fleur de sel, and climb the bell tower observatory in Saint-Martin-de-Ré.
See the Ile de Ré's beloved, trouser-wearing, Poitou donkeys in Saint-Martin-de-Ré.
Cycle around the expansive salt marshes in the western part of the island, which produce the renowned Ile de Ré salt.
Get a fantastic view across Saint-Martin-de-Ré from the bell tower observatory.
winter
Winter is the best time to see the rugged beauty of the Ile de Ré. With fewer visitors, the island is quiet, and the beauty of nature more apparent. Skies can be clear and blue, or stormy and windswept. The thundering power of the Atlantic makes an awe-inspring view from atop the Phare des Baleines lighthouse.
See the magnificent views of the Atlantic from the Phare des Baleines lighthouse.
Walk around the fortifications in Saint-Martin-de-Ré built by Vauban, either on your own, or with a guide.
Discover the island's history through the collections at the musée Ernest Cognacq in Saint-Martin-de-Ré.
spring
While the high season on the Ile de Ré is short, the island has much to offer year round. The island's unusually mild climate means you can enjoy an off-season visit to see the island's flora and fauna reemerge after the winter. From the fields surrounding the ruined Abbey to the Maison du Fier nature reserve, the signs of spring will be everywhere!
Discover the romantic ruins of the Abbaye des Châteliers amid the fields in La Flotte.
Explore the award-winning Maison du Fier nature reserve, fully accessible on foot or by bike with its maze of paths.
Learn about the production of oysters at l'Huitrière de Ré, and maybe even try some with a glass of wine!