Are you planning to spend the day or come on vacation and are looking for an experience in Sainte-Marie-de-Ré? The Destination Ile de Ré Tourist Office offers you to discover all the Sainte-Marie-de-Ré activities, to book directly online.
A charming village with multiple landscapes
When you arrive on the Ile de Ré, you will see the slender point of the bell tower of Sainte-Marie-de-Ré which will guide you to the south coast of the island. This typical and visible bell tower is still used as a landmark by sailors.
The village of Sainte-Marie-de-Ré is one of the oldest on the island and dates back to medieval times. Its character, affirmed by its rurality, makes it a preserved and authentic place.
For a successful experience in Sainte-Marie-de-Ré, it is necessary to live between wineyards and ocean.
Experiences in Sainte-Marie-de-Ré: a tour of the must-sees by bike
We start the walk in the heart of the village, by going to a must for your Sainte-Marie-de-Ré experience: the village market. Stroll between Place Antioche and Place des Tilleuls, and leave with a basket filled with local delicacies.
Once this is done, you can take your bike and ride through the streets of the village, taking the time to observe its typical houses, its flowered alleys and the village wells, once a meeting place for the inhabitants of the village.
We take the direction of the church Notre Dame de l'Assomption and its bell tower, place Eudes d'Aquitaine, where from the top of the bell tower, you will enjoy an amazing view on the Pertuis d'Antioche and the island of Oléron.
Once you've had your fill of the view, get back on your bike and head for La Souillarde, rue de la République, for a trip back in time to discover the old kitchen annexed to the former teachers' house, dating from the 19th century.
We continue the walk in the direction of the Alambic, petite rue de la grande, where the farm and its wine storehouse date from the 16th century.
Next, a stop at the miller's house, an old 18th century house decorated in the style of the time, where you will be told the history of the mills and the life of the millers.
Then, let's ride to the Saint-Sauveur Chapel, built according to the legend by a great Spanish lady in 596, saved from a shipwreck, then to the Ancre Maritaise, where you can discover the natural heritage of the region.
To close this beautiful walk, when leaving the Ancre Maritaise, go down to the beach, where you will find fish locks, unique historical heritage of an ancestral fishing technique.
Activities in Sainte-Marie-de-Ré: between wineyards and ocean
For more than ten centuries, the economy of the village has been entirely focused on the wine industry. In the surroundings of the village, take the time to walk in the heart of the wineyards.
You can also discover the village from the path of the 5 landscapes, starting from the Port Notre-Dame cove, which will lead you to discover the different natural environments of the village. With its 4 beautiful wild beaches, you will have the choice among activities in Sainte-Marie de Ré. Try your hand at surfing or bodyboarding on the waves of the Grenettes spot, admire the sunset on the beach of Basse Benaie or on the terrace of the Cabane de Montamer, discover the foreshore of Sainte-Marie-de-Ré, the fishing and the fish locks accompanied by a passionate guide.
The wild coast of Sainte-Marie is also perfect for walks along the coastal path, and the contemplation of the waves.
