Escape for a weekend in Charente-Maritime

Want to get some fresh air this weekend? Charente-Maritime is a huge playground for all lovers of sport, nature, culture and gastronomy. The Charente Maritime Guide offers you a series of activities to do, with family, as a couple or with friends.

Set off on a Tèrra Aventura

Go on an adventure with your children in Charente-Maritime thanks to Tèrra Aventura, the geocaching of Nouvelle-Aquitaine. This free, life-size treasure hunt immerses you in a captivating world. Using your mobile phone and the dedicated application, choose a route based on its theme, duration or difficulty. Clues have been hidden in the heart of urban or natural heritage, start looking for them and answer the riddles encountered. You will be rewarded by the discovery of the Poï'z, the small Tèrra Aventura characters to collect. A good opportunity to do sport in a fun and cultural way with family or friends.

Pedaling the Vélodyssée

From La Rochelle to Royan, there are no less than 130 kilometers that you can cycle on a portion of the Vélodyssée. This sporty hike runs along the ocean, takes you through marshes and canals, and allows you to explore the Arvert peninsula through the Coubre forest. After the effort, comfort! The beaches of Royan await you for a well-deserved rest!

Visit La Rochelle and its aquarium

Formerly a fishing village and salt and wine trading port, the Old Port of La Rochelle is today the emblem of the city, framed by the three towers of Saint-Nicolas, the Lanterne, and the Chaîne. It is pleasant to stroll through the cobbled streets of the old town after passing through the Porte de la Grosse Horloge. On the quays, take the time to observe the old renovated fishing huts, admire the half-timbered houses and private mansions from the 18th and 19th ^centuries .

Several museums enhance the visit to La Rochelle, including its Aquarium, number 1 in Europe , which allows you to travel to the marine depths of the Atlantic coasts but also other continents. More than 1,200 varieties of fish and marine animals can be discovered to penetrate the heart of the oceans. The La Rochelle Aquarium is both a spectacle a source of wonder and a fun and educational space which seeks to raise visitors' awareness of the marine world and its protection.

Discover Rochefort, Hermione and Corderie Royale

Rochefort is a true open-air museum of the great era of maritime arsenal and shipbuilding . Even the houses of Rochefort have symbols evocative of its maritime and military past!

You will be able to see the famous Hermione , the frigate which brought Lafayette to the United States during the War of Independence. After 20 years of work, its reconstruction is impressive. The port is home to several other colorful boats with gigantic masts and sails.

A masterpiece of military architecture, the Corderie Royale is the jewel of Rochefort and the longest rope factory in Europe at 374 meters long. This Versailles of the sea built during the reign of the Sun King welcomes the public of all ages for an immersive visit to the epic tale of sailing . Models, machines, images, films, objects and ropes to manipulate, holographic projections, interactive games, practical workshops and demonstrations... This interactive scripted space allows you to explore two centuries of rope production.
Before leaving, stop for a drink on Place Colbert. With its fountain and the tide clock, it is the unmissable dynamic place in the city.

Explore the island of Oléron and meet its artisans

The island of Oléron is the second largest French island after Corsica. Salt marshes, maritime pine forests, dunes, cliffs, beaches... so many different places to explore thanks to the 100 km of marked and secure cycle paths . A fantastic outdoor playground, the ocean invites you to practice water activities, surfing and swimming.

In the center of the island, Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron is the economic and commercial center of the island, where you can meet many artisans. Heading south, you will reach the port of Cotinière , the first fishing port in Charente-Maritime from where sea bass, fish and langoustines land... At the northern tip, the Chassiron lighthouse , 46 meters high, houses a museum and offers a superb panorama of Oléron, the islands of Aix and Ré. Finally, in the far southeast, admire a typical landscape of oyster cabins .

Taste the local gastronomy

Charente-Maritime is synonymous with a treat for the taste buds, with of course oysters from the Marennes-d'Oléron basin ! Bouchot mussels are also famous, eaten in the Charentaise mouclade style (marinière accompanied by crème fraîche) or en eclade, that is to say cooked in pine needles. Fish is also a delight for gourmets.

On the Ile de Ré, enjoy early potatoes with such a special taste. With a touch of fleur de sel, it's a treat! And do you know salicornia ?

Pineau , the Charente-Maritime aperitif, and local wine with maritime and sunny accents go wonderfully with local specialties and products.

Dive into the heart of the cellars and taste cognac

The fruit of ancestral know-how, cognac is closely linked to Charente-Maritime. There's nothing like a stopover in the cognac vineyard to discover the thousand facets of the process of making this spirit, from vinification to distillation. From a double distillation, this precious eau-de-vie is then aged in oak barrels, sometimes century-old barrels!

Small producers and renowned cognac houses open their doors to you to reveal their secrets and put your palate into practice! To appreciate the subtleties of the different cognacs, depending on their aging period, a tasting is essential. A beautiful taste journey in perspective!

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