Holiday rentals and lettings in Charente Maritime

A popular destination for holidaymakers, Charente Maritime attracts camping enthusiasts for its "nature" aspect. It also attracts retirees nostalgic for sea bathing in marine tents, families looking for activities dedicated to children and couples still dizzy with love for a weekend together. In this sense, the accommodation offer is adapted. Sumptuous bourgeois holiday lettings in Charente Maritime, old fishermen's cabins by the sea, luxurious rooms in a thalasso establishment or a cottage in the heart of nature: there is something for everyone. Some of the features of holiday rental in Charente Maritime include:

• Terraces
• Balcony
• Garden
• Modern facilities

A pleasant climate all year round

Charente-Maritime is resolutely oriented towards the ocean. Moreover, the Gironde estuary is one of the largest in Europe. Subjected to erosion, its seafront remains very wild and thus retains all its charm. Located in the southwest of France, Charente Maritime belongs to the New Aquitaine region. Its oceanic climate combined with the Gulf Stream allows it to benefit from an exceptional microclimate. Get a holiday rental in Charente Maritime and enjoy a memorable experience.

Getting around in Charente Maritime

The region is accessible by land via the A10 motorway and the RN10 national road, via the LGV Atlantique train and by air via La Rochelle - Ile de Ré airport. Using a car seems to be the best way to discover the richness the department offers on its 7,000Km². For instance, if you have a villa in La Rochelle, you can make a day trip to Charente Maritime. Alternatively, you can start your visit near the ocean with a holiday letting in La Palmyre, which is 45 minutes away from the Charente Maritime.

Territory facing the ocean, the Charente Maritime offers a remarkable variety of reliefs. Fine sandy beaches, coves, cliffs, pine forests, peninsulas, marshes and estuaries will delight nature lovers. If you have a holiday letting in Royan, take a trip to explore the area of marshes and canals known as Marais-Poitevin. You can visit several nature reserves if you are a bird watcher or nature lover. These include nature reserve of Marais de Moeze Oleron and lagoons at Rochefort.

1. Ile d'Oléron and the Marennes basin
2. Poitevin Marsh
3. Ile de Ré
4. La Rochelle
5. Royan

1. Ile d'Oléron and the Marennes basin

The Marennes-Oléron basin, with a surface area of about 3,000 hectares, is a surprising territory with an exceptional heritage where old fortifications, maritime remains, lighthouses and forts are combined, including the famous Fort Boyard. On the island of Oleron, the Chassiron lighthouse from the top of its rocky cliff offers a panoramic view of the gardens below. As for the citadel of the Château d'Oléron, it dominates the oyster port and its many artists' huts. Renovated to exhibit ancestral know-how, they work on various materials; painting, wood, metals and ceramics. Finally, located in the heart of the Marennes-Oleron Basin, Marennes has made its reputation thanks to the quality of its oysters. A visit to the port of La Cayenne will be the perfect opportunity for a tasting of fine de claire, special claire, fine de claire verte or even pousse en Claire. If you have a private holiday letting in Charente Maritime, ensure you visit the Marennes-Oleron basin.

2. Poitevin Marsh

This extraordinary site covers nearly 100,000 hectares and extends beyond the borders between Charente-Maritime, Deux-Sèvres and Vendée. The Marais Poitevin is a real maze of canals lined with ash, willow and alder trees, which can be travelled by boat. A kind of jungle with a rich ecosystem, the green Venice (the wet part of the Poitou marsh) reveals its charm. Do not miss the visit with a guide boatman who may demonstrate the water and fire. Even if you have a villa in Poitou Charentes, ensure you make a visit to Poitevin Marsh.

3. Ile de Ré

Also known as "Ré la Blanche" due to the characteristic hue of its traditional houses, Ile de Ré offers a true range of landscapes. If you have a holiday rental in Charente Maritime, plan a day trip to Ile de Re. Alternatively, book a holiday letting in Ile de Re and take your time to explore the area. It is a chic destination with its villages with an iodised atmosphere, architecture, and ports, such as La Flotte or Saint-Martin, competing in elegance. Ile de Ré can be discovered by bike with more than 100 kilometres of cycle paths allowing you to discover unusual spots: sandy beaches, salt marshes, vineyards and forests. The bravest will enjoy a remarkable view of the island and the ocean, going as far as Baie de l'Aiguillon, at the price of 257 steps to the top of the Phare des Baleines. The island also offers three thalassotherapy centres. Zenitude guaranteed!

4. La Rochelle

If La Rochelle is not the capital of the department, it has all the characteristics of a great city. Bordered by the ocean, it offers a unique way of life: stroll around the old port, enjoy the sunny terraces, and discover the historical heritage of this thousand-year-old city. Don’t forget to sample its local specialities on the market under the main market hall. For a sublime panorama of the entire city, the old port and Fort Boyard, go to the top of the medieval towers Tour Saint Nicolas, Tour de la Chaîne and Tour de la Lanterne. Finally, don't miss the Francofolies, a festival of songs and contemporary music held every year in mid-July and offering more than 100 concerts over five days. If you have a holiday rental in Charente Maritime, you can spend some time in La Rochelle.

5. Royan

A picturesque seaside resort, Royan offers visitors two distinct faces. On the one hand, the districts were rebuilt after the damage of the Second World War. On the other hand, the new era is symbolised by the seaside villas and the sumptuous Belle-Époque residences. Every year in August, the sky is lit up by the pyrotechnic show, a real pyromelodic festival organised by the city on the beach of La Grande Conche. The discovery of the estuaries will allow you to visit two of the most beautiful villages in France. Mornac-sur-Seudre, a village with medieval accents, turned towards oyster farming and the salt produced by its marshes, as well as Talmont-sur-Gironde, whose ramparts promenade offers a sublime view of the surroundings.