The Charente-Maritime is one of the most beautiful departments in France and offers many places to see and a large number of activities to do. Our AirBNB concierge in Royan presents a selection to help you prepare for your future stay.
The department of Charente-Maritime is located on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and at the end of the Gironde estuary. This large coastline makes it a very popular destination for tourists because it offers a large number of activities to do and places to see. Anne-Claire Souty, AirBNB agency manager in Royan, is happy to welcome new visitors every year: “We have a lot of recommendations and share them with tenants. Charente-Maritime is a superb department which allows you to recharge your batteries and discover many unknown places. It is a very beautiful destination for family holidays”.
Cities to see in Charente-Maritime according to our AirBNB agency in Royan
We begin this overview of the Charente-Maritime by talking about the cities to see during your stay. The department does not have a very large city or metropolis, the largest cities being considered medium-sized cities such as La Rochelle, Royan, Saintes and Rochefort. Other towns of lesser importance are interesting, such as Saint-Jean-d'Angély, Marennes or Jonzac.
La Rochelle, capital of the department, has been a center of fishing and trade since the XNUMXth century, a maritime tradition which is reflected in its Old Port and its huge ultramodern marina: Les Minimes. The old town is home to medieval half-timbered houses and Renaissance architecture, with arcaded streets dating back to the XNUMXth century. “A walk in La Rochelle is a real moment of relaxation, says Anne-Claire Souty, director of the YourHostHelper concierge service in Royan. The old town is superb and definitely worth a visit”.
Royan is the main seaside resort in the department. Its sandy beaches include, among others, the Grande Conche, which is 2 km long, faces south and has sheltered waters. The town also has Belle Époque villas and features post-war modern architecture, as evidenced by the concrete-built Notre-Dame de Royan church. The large Cordouan lighthouse is on an islet in the estuary, accessible by ferry.
Further north, the towns of Saintes and Rochefort also offer pleasant short walks in their cobbled streets. “Each city offers a relaxing atmosphere,” smiles Anne-Claire Souty. It is good to live there, the inhabitants are pleasant and there are plenty of things to see here and there”. The Ile de Ré and the Ile d'Oléron are also among the must-see places. Connected to the mainland by bridges, they offer many small villages to see. The citadel of the island of Oléron is also worth visiting. Other places are very interesting to see through the region: the Cordouan lighthouse, located at sea in the Gironde estuary, is the oldest lighthouse in France still in operation. In the heart of the marshes is the Château de Brouage, located in the town of Marennes-Hiers-Brouage.
Activities selected by our concierge YourHostHelper in Royan
The Charente-Maritime offers a wide variety of activities to do throughout your stay. Sports, visits, places to see, there is something for everyone, as presented by Anne-Claire Souty, director of our Royan Concierge : “Charente-Maritime is rich in diverse and varied activities. We have selected a few to present to you, but there are even more throughout the department”.
For cycling enthusiasts, the Charente-Maritime is the perfect place. Indeed, many cycle routes have been set up to offer superb walks through the department and connect most of the towns to each other, on secure and marked routes. Many other cycling routes cross the department: the Scandibérique (which connects Santiago de Compostela in Spain to Trondheim (Norway), the Flow Vélo (which links the Dordogne to the island of Aix) or the Vélodyssée (routed between Roscoff and Hendaye) All these cycling routes are interlinked and offer you great freedom of movement ideal for long rides on the handlebars of your bike.
Water sports in Royan:
Atlantic Ocean obliges, it is also possible to indulge in water sports during your stay. Surfing, stand-up paddle, sand yachting or even canoeing, the large beaches of Royan are an ideal spot for surfers. In Royan, it is possible to surf in all seasons. Moreover, most surf schools in Charente-Maritime are open all year round. But the best period is still the beautiful season. The Ile de Ré and the Ile d'Oléron also offer superb spots for surfing.
Unusual discoveries in Cognac:
If you wish to indulge in less sporting activities, you can for example visit the large houses of Cognac, which make the name of the city shine. Around the world, everyone talks about classic visits or more unusual experiences during a cellar visit to Cognac. To relax, the Charente-Maritime also offers thalassotherapy centres. Ocean water, relaxing, toning, sculpting treatments and expert hands. The experience of Thalasso treatments by the sea in Charente-Maritime promises relaxation and disconnection. First destination for fitness through water with 5 thalassotherapy centres, taking care of yourself could well become a ritual from which you will no longer derogate.
Activities for children in Royan:
Many activities also exist for children. On the Pons side, the Château des Enigmas is a perfect place. Beyond being a magnificent witness to the Renaissance era, it is above all there to amuse the family. Hyper-fun, the playground is suitable for children from four years old. But parents have just as much fun, even more since the castle offers escape games. In Royan, the Coolongalook playground offers a course in an exceptional and completely secure environment. Finally, on the Saint-Savinien-sur-Charente side, head for the miniature port leisure park. A fleet of 18 boats, scale models, is waiting for you to spend an unforgettable moment with your family. And the activity is not just for children. Parents also love to become captain of a freighter, a Mississippi steamer or even a cruise ferry. Very close to Royan, you can also visit the Palmyre zoo, which covers 18 hectares. The park, laid out as a landscaped garden, offers visitors the opportunity to observe more than 1 animals of 500 species, along a route of more than 115 kilometers.
Visit the unmissable Fort-Boyard:
Finally, there is a well-known historical monument that you can only see from the sea: it is the very famous Fort Boyard, famous for the famous show of the same name. Originally, Fort Boyard, is a fortress located in the department of Charente-Maritime on the Atlantic coast. Precisely between the mouth of the Charente river, the island of Aix, the island of Oléron and the island Madame in a navigation basin that the people of Charente call the Pertuis d'Antioche. The visit of Fort Boyard is done only by sea. Several companies offer very beautiful sea trips around the fort.
The Charente-Maritime therefore offers a wide variety of activities and places to see for the whole family. The department is rich in culture and will allow everyone to spend a superb holiday in a relaxing setting, by the ocean. “The people of Charente are proud of their department. They like to receive visitors and make them discover the hidden beauties of the many Charente towns. Whatever you like to do, you will inevitably find your happiness in Charente-Maritime”.
