Île De Ré, France
Travel Notes
Île de Ré is a small island located on the west coast of France two miles off the coast of La Rochelle in the Poitou-Charentes region. Originally an archipelago consisting of a few small islands brought together by silage and the formation of the salt marshes, Île de Ré’s abundant waters and soil means that local markets and restaurants are stocked year-round, not only with salt, but with locally cultivated potatoes, wine and oysters that are harvested at low tide off shore. The idyllic weather and charming villages make the island a favored destination for chic Parisians and nature enthusiasts alike.
Euro
Time Zone
Central European
French
Local Cuisine
French, Fresh Seafood
May - September
Dress Code
Nautical Stripes, Espadrilles
WHERE TO STAY
L'Hôtel Le Sénéchal
6 Rue Gambetta
17590 Ars-en-Ré, France
+33 5 46 29 40 42
L’Hôtel De Toiras
1 Quai Job Foran
17410 Saint-Martin-de-Ré, France
+33 5 46 35 40 32
Villa Foulquier
33 Rue des Chênes Verts
17940 Rivedoux-Plage, France
+33 6 14 36 29 60
WHAT TO VISIT
Ecomusée Du Marais Salants
Route de La Passe
17111 Loix-en-Ré, France
+33 5 46 29 06 77
Abbaye Des Chateliers
17630 La Flotte, France
Phare des Baleines
155 Allée du Phare
17590 Saint-Clément-des-Baleines, France
WHAT TO DO
BICYCLE RENTAL
Tout A Velo
7 Rue Gustave Dechezeaux
17630 La Flotte, France
+33 5 16 85 24 24
Winetasting
Les Vignerons D’Ile De Re
Route de Sainte Marie
17580 Le Bois-Place-en-Ré, France
+33 5 46 09 23 09
WHERE TO DINE
La Chaloupe
104 Rue Albert Saurraut
17940 Rivedoux-Plage, France
+33 5 46 09 87 84
Le Bistro De Béné
1 Quai de La Criée
17590 Ars-en-Ré, France
+33 4 46 29 40 26
Le Balaou
Avenue de Nouralene
17670 La Couarde-Sur-Mer,
France
+33 5 46 29 86 07
La Cabane du Fier
Le Martray
17590 Ars-en-Ré, France
+33 5 46 29 64 84
REQUIRED READING
BY STEPHANE BAHIC
AVAILABLE AT ECO MUSEE DE SALANTS
[IN FRENCH]
The Objects
Exclusive Edition 001 Sel De Mer
This crunchy sea salt is hand-harvested using ancient methods by the cooperative, Les Sauniers de l'Île de Ré. The first salt marshes on Île de Ré were created during the Middle Ages to preserve food. At that time, marshes could be seen throughout the coastline where the clay used to form the marais was naturally found. Today, there are sixty sauniers harvesting fleur de sel and gros sel within the island cooperative. Available only through Stories + Objects, the Île de Ré sel de mer comes with a hand-thrown, hand-painted porcelain salt jar by master ceramicist Roberto Carrillo.
The Story
THE ART OF SEA SALT
Brice Collonier is a saunier, or salt worker, collecting salt on the French island of Île de Ré in a tradition that dates back to the twelfth century when it was introduced by Cistercian monks.
Brice is amongst a new generation of salt workers that have rediscovered this craft that was nearly abandoned on the isle. He carves and reshapes the landscape continually, according to the winds and temperature, resulting in the cultivation of two natural, hand-crafted products - the highly nutritive, grey-hued gros sel and the rich in flavor, pure white fleur de sel.
