What to do, what to see, what to visit on the Ile d'Oléron? If on the occasion of a weekend in La Rochelle or holidays in Vendée, you wish discover the Ile d'Oléron, so here is my tourist circuit with route map. This is an island tour which allows you to see the most beautiful beaches and visit the most beautiful tourist sites of the island of Oléron.
How long to visit the Island?
The Ile d'Oléron with its 174 km2, its oyster ports, its salt marshes, its villages with colorful houses and its magnificent beaches have enough to keep a tourist busy for several days!
In fact, my tour of the must-sees below can be done in 1 day by car or in a motorhome because it represents only 90 km of road.
However, to be able to fully enjoy the tourist sites and all the riches of the island, I recommend that you do it in 2 or 3 days. Thus, you can go for some beautiful hikes, typical markets, go and taste oysters, surf or relax on its beautiful golden beaches ...
Visit the Ile d'Oléron - The unmissable stops
To make an ideal itinerary that combines tourist stops and seaside pleasures, I have selected the sites which (according to my tastes) are must-see sites of the Ile d'Oléron:
- Departure from Marennes on the mainland to take the Ile d'Oléron bridge;
- Château d'Oléron (a must-see on the island);
- Chenal de la Baudissière with its cabins and salt marshes;
- Port de la Cotinière (1st fishing port of Charente-Martime);
- Village of Fort Royer (charming little typical oyster village with its colorful huts);
- Ford-Boyard from Boyardville beach;
- Saint Denis d'Oléron (northern point of the Ile d'Oléron with its cliff overlooking the ocean, its fish locks and the port of Saint-Denis);
- Lighthouse of Chassiron (emblematic site in the far north of the Ile d'Oléron);
- Dolus-d'Oléron (salt marsh, pine forests, vineyards, oyster farms)
- Baie de La Perroche Saint Pierre d'Oléron (beaches for surfing enthusiasts);
- Grand-Village-Plage with the Port des Salines to take a walk in the Salines and buy salt directly from the producers;
- The beach of Giraudière;
- Saint Trojan Beach (one of the most beautiful beaches on the Ile d'Oléron);
- Saint-Trojan-les-Bains (for a small walk tourist train to discover the island of Oléron);
- Return via the Ile d'Oléron viaduct to Marennes.
Then I ordered and organized them to make an optimized loop tour that circles the island.
Ile d'Oléron tourist circuit - Route map
Think of click on "more options" in the map below to switch to GPS mode
What to do in Ile d'Oléron?
Here are the essential visits to do (in the order of my tourist circuit of the Ile d'Oléron):
What to do in Ile d'Oléron: Pont d'Oléron
Taking the Oléron bridge is already part of the trip. Indeed, this viaduct of 3 meters which overhangs the ocean, offers a formidable sight on Fort Boyard, on the Castle of Oléron and on Fort Louvois.
What to do in Ile d'Oléron: Château d'Oléron
This is the first stop on my road trip: Château d'Oléron and its craftsmen's huts.
On this tourist site, you can take advantage of the talents of the island's artisans but also the charm of the colorful cabins or visit the Citadel of the Château d'Oléron.
What to do in Ile d'Oléron: Chenal de la Baudissière
Facing the Moëze-Oléron nature reserve which is home to a multitude of species of seabirds, you can visit the Chenal de la Baudissière. The municipality of Dolus participated in the rehabilitation of some beautiful huts that were abandoned. Today they constitute a colorful picturesque site along the Baudissière channel.
What to do in Ile d'Oléron: Port de la Cotinière
First fishing port of Charente Maritime, the stopover on this site gives an overview of an important economic activity on the island.
What to do in Ile d'Oléron: Fort Royer and Boyardville
Here is another essential stopover when visiting the Ile d'Oléron: Fort Royer and its oyster farm which is one of the most typical sites of the island.
Then, you can continue with the pretty Boyardville marina and finally, go to Boyardville beach to enjoy a magnificent view of Fort Boyard.
What to do in Ile d'Oléron: Saint Denis d'Oléron and the Chassiron lighthouse
With its cliff overlooking the ocean, the Pointe de Chassiron offers a panorama that is worth the detour.
To enjoy it from higher up, you can climb to the Chassiron lighthouse which is emblematic of the place. From there, you can see La Rochelle, Île de Ré and Aix as well as Fort Boyard.
What to do in Ile d'Oléron: Port des Salines
Here is a beautiful stopover at Le Grand Village Plage: The port of Les Salines. On this site, you can discover the history of salt farming and the know-how of salt workers. You can visit an ecomuseum, take a guided tour of the salt marsh or a nice boat trip.
Giraudière beach to finish the circuit
To end the circuit, a stop on the beach of Giraudière is essential. It is the largest beach on the Ile d'Oléron. 1,5 km from Le Grand-Village-Plage, access to this beach is very easy. You can get there by car, on foot, by bike or by small train and it is equipped for people with reduced mobility. To the south, part of the beach is reserved for naturists.
Where to stay on the island?
Want to sleep by the beach in a dream setting, out of time and close to the trails to the most beautiful beaches on the island? So, here is a hotel that will meet your desires: The Isle of Light Hotel !
With direct access to the beach, the Hotel Ile de Lumière is located a few minutes walk from the village of La Cotinière and its pretty fishing port. Its location is also ideal for visiting the island!
Want another idea of visits to France?