Are you planning to spend the day or come on vacation and are looking for an experience in Les Portes-en-Ré ? The Destination Ile de Ré Tourist Office offers you to discover all the activities in Les Portes-en-Ré, to book directly online.
A village with a sweet life
Located at the end of the Ile de Ré, which is what makes it so special and beautiful, the village of Les Portes-en-Ré reveals itself in a natural, preserved and wild setting, between sea and forests.
On foot or by bicycle, let yourself be charmed by this authentic village, which comes alive at the arrival of summer around the Place de la Liberté. Its restaurants, terraces and shops give it an extraordinary charm, with its pretty houses nestled at the end of flowery alleys. These memories of this experience in Les Portes-en-Ré will stay with you for a long time !
Experiences in Les Portes-en-Ré : Discovering by bike
To begin your walk, we start at the Maison de la Dune, 500m from the Plage du Petit Bec, a small museum where everything about the dune environment is explained: the ecosystem of the dune, its fauna, its flora. Then, go to the market of Les Portes, place de la Liberté, to discover simple pleasures, local specialties, quality products and an unequalled proximity. Take advantage of this opportunity to stroll through the flowered alleys of the village center which offer a surprising discovery of the small heritage. Once your basket is well filled, get back on your bike and head for the old Ile de Ré train station, which used to serve all the communes and was used to transport goods and travelers.
Not far from there, you will find the Sainte-Eutrope church, rue de la Cure, which contains in its interior very beautiful objects dating from the 17th and 18th centuries.
Then we take the road again in the direction of La Redoute, and the Notre Dame des Mers chapel, route du Fier, which was formerly used to defend the Banc du Bûcheron. Next, go to the forest of Trousse-Chemise, to discover the lighthouse of Trousse-Chemise, about 12 meters high above the high sea. An opportunity to dream in the "small wood of Trousse Chemise", hummed by Charles Aznavour.
Activities in Les Portes-en-Ré : between dunes and sea
The activities in Les Portes-en-Ré are numerous, probably due to the fact that the village of Les Portes-en-Ré has some of the most beautiful beaches on the island, with the Petit Bec beach, the Lizay beach, the Gros Jonc beach, the Loge beach, the Trois Cailloux and the equally famous Banc du Bûcheron, which can be discovered so far away at low tide, and which stretches over 4.5 km. You will find a peaceful and friendly atmosphere and timeless landscapes. Surfing, kitesurfing and sailing are also available. So, grab your board! And for the surfers, we also give you an appointment at the beach of Petit Bec, where after a good session of surfing, you can admire a superb sunset.
For a moment of relaxation, you can also go to the beach of La Patache, located at the mouth of the Riveau, and a real haven of peace.
When leaving the village, go through the salt marshes and the Réserve Naturelle de Lilleau des Niges, a real nature paradise that welcomes thousands of birds throughout the year, including white stilts, brant, elegant avocets, little egrets, and bluebirds.
Enjoy the natural, preserved and wild setting of nature by riding through the reserve in the middle of the marshes, which offer, in all seasons, a magnificent spectacle of wildlife and wild flora.
Imagine yourself enjoying oysters, in the middle of a wildlife, with the cries of sea birds in the background... Nice, isn't it?
A stopover is also necessary at the Maison du Fier, located at the entrance of the natural reserve, where you can discover the natural wealth of the Ile de Ré through a museographic space highlighting the incredible ecosystem of the island. You will find exhibitions on the fauna and flora and the landscapes of the Ile de Ré but also numerous nature outings to discover the birds and plants of the marshes.
