Île de Ré Island

Address: Île de Ré, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France

Île de Ré is an island off the west coast of France in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, known for its seaside villages, salt marshes and seaside tourism. It is connected to the mainland near La Rochelle by a road bridge that opened in 1988.

Popular attractions include the fortified harbour town of Saint-Martin-de-Ré, the village of La Flotte, broad sandy beaches and traditional salt marshes. The island has a dense network of cycle paths and is commonly visited for day trips and seasonal tourism.

The island’s current character developed through maritime trade, salt production and coastal defence; historic fortifications and harbour works remain in the main towns. Tourism and artisan salt production are important to the local economy.

Île de Ré lies off the Atlantic coast of western France, just west of La Rochelle, and is reached by road bridge or boat from the mainland.

• Bridge link: Connected to the mainland by a road bridge opened in 1988, which significantly increased visitor numbers.
• Cycling: The island has an extensive network of cycle paths and is commonly explored by bicycle between villages, beaches and salt plains.

What to See#

• Saint-Martin-de-Ré: Saint-Martin-de-Ré, the island’s main harbour village known for its historic town centre, fortifications and marina.
• La Flotte: La Flotte, a traditional island village facing salt marshes and known for its market and seaside quays.
• Salt marshes: Extensive salt marshes and reclaimed salt pans on the island’s interior and southern shores that have historically produced sea salt.

Île de Ré is reached by the Île de Ré bridge (Pont de l’île de Ré) from La Rochelle (about 20-25 minutes by car). La Rochelle is accessible by train from Paris (approximately 2.5-3 hours). Once on the island, the best way to get around is by bicycle or car; many towns have parking at the entrances.

• Cross the Île de Ré bridge (toll-free) early on busy summer days to avoid long queues.
• Bring or rent a bicycle - the island's flat roads and marked bike lanes are the best way to see the salt marshes and villages.
• Avoid July-August if possible; traffic and ferry lines (and hotel rates) spike.
• Try the island oysters and locally produced sea salt (fleur de sel) at a market in Saint-Martin-de-Ré.