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 06/09/2010 |
Strolls and visits in the vicinity
The Charente Maritime and the countryside around Royan are rich in natural and cultural heritage. Below you can find some ideas for strolls or discoveries around Colinette…
The beaches and the creeks
The two large beaches of Saint-Georges-de-Didonne and Royan offer vast spaces for tanning quietly. The low level of currents allow very safe swimming.
  Forests
The forests of pine and green oaks have been planted along the coast to stop the shoreline dunes from progressing inland and invading the back country. The vast Forêt de la Coubre and the smaller forest of Suzac in Saint-Georges-de-Didonne are vivid examples. The aroma of the pine trees follows you as you stroll among the brooms and the gorse bushes, all the way to the water.
  On the road to the Estuary
A picturesque road follows the estuary of Gironde towards Bordeaux, offering magnificent view of salt fields and limestone cliffs.
The Caves of Matata and Regulus. Not so long ago, visitors could taste the Gironde caviar: sturgeon eggs. This legendary fish, still populating the estuary, is currently protected. It’s a site for exceptional strolls with impressive views of the estuary.
The Island of Ré is famous for its small villages with white houses, with green shutters and small streets lined by hollyhocks. Numerous bicycle paths have been lain out and allow bikers to bike around the island (allow 1 whole day), on a mostly flat terrain. There are many picturesque harbours (La Flotte, Saint-Martin). Towards the north, one can find salterns (Loix-en-Ré) and at the very north, some beaches and pine forests. The large marine bay of Fiers d’Ars, near Loix-en-Ré, is classified national natural reserve (réserve de Lilleau des Niges). The island is reachable via a toll bridge.
The Island of Oléron is the largest of the Charente islands. It is 30 km long, from north to south. Its shore, sheltered from the waves and the currents, is rather dedicated to oyster production. (bassin ostréicole de Marennes-Oléron). The west coast opens onto the ocean, and offers views of sand dunes, beaches and pine forests. The north of the island is rockier. Two roads end up in Oléron. The first one crosses the marsh of the Seudre. The second, more one the coast, traverses the forest of La Coubre. You can access the island via a tool-free bridge.
  The island of Aix is an island visited on foot or on bicycle. Aix is very picturesque, especially because very few cars drive there. It is rocky at the north end and fortified at the south end. You can access it by boat, from the municipality of Fouras (toll crossing; duration 20 minutes). Every day the boats bring dozens of tourists who leave at the end of the day. Therefore, at dusk, the island is very calm and barely inhabited.
  The Island Madame is the smallest. It is mainly rocky and one can tour it on foot. It is only accessible by car at low tide: the road is covered by water at high tide! So, be careful not to be trapped and keep in mind the schedule of the tides. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait five hours there for the next low tide!
The coast is punctuated by numerous lighthouses scattered on the continent and on the islands. The most remarkable, the Lighthouse of Cordouan, is accessible by boat from Royan.
The Lighthouse of Cordouan is the oldest of Europe. It is also called le Phare des Rois, the Lighthouse of the Kings. It used to be connected by a stretch of land to the Pointe-de-Grave. Today, one needs a boat to reach this magnificent lighthouse, a historical monument.
The Lighthouse of la Coubre is located in La Palmyre, near the vast forest bearing the same name. It was built between 1903 and 1905 and measures 64 metres high; its light can reach between 50 to 80 km depending on the weather. You will have to climb its 300 steps to discover a magnificent panoramic view of the Atlantic coast and the pine forest.
 The Lighthouse of Saint-Georges is located on the cliffs, near Colinette. Guided tours are organized in the summer to provide visitors with some history. Nearby, a walking trails brings you to the beach of Saint-Georges.
The Paléosite of Saint-Cézaire is an interactive centre on prehistory. It offers a discovery of Neanderthals, some 35,000 years ago, through some modern museum displays (3D vision, CG images).
The amphitheatre of the Arenas of Saintes was built around AD 40 and bears witness to the important Roman history of this city which should not be overlooked in any case (the Priory church Saint-Eutrope, the Abbaye-aux-Dames [an abbey])
The Corderie Royale of Rochefort: It was the largest factory of rope in Europe in the 17th century. Today, it tells the story of the maritime civilisation and presents the Hermione construction site, the ship that enabled La Fayette, in 1780, to journey to America.
  The Citadel of Brouage is a former maritime port on the Salt Road, with battlements dating from the beginning of the 17th century. A bastion of the religious wars, the city was rebuilt by Richelieu to become the royal city against La Rochelle “The Rebel”.
 
The Zoo de la Palmyre is the first zoological park in Europe , with more than 1600 animals from every continent scattered over 14 hectares (discount prices are offered for the clients of Colinette).
The Gardens of the World (Jardins du Monde) form the largest orchid greenhouse of France with the most beautiful varieties. Inside, a tropical forest will bring you a total change of scenery (discount price for the clients of Colinette).
The Aquarium of La Rochelle enables everyone to learn about marine habitats and environment. Travel for two hours to the bottom of the oceans and discover more than 10,000 animals of the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, and the Tropics.
The former Château d’Usson, the Castles of the Enigmas (Château des Enigmes) invites you to discover four centuries of history through games and enigmas. For the entire family to discover.
The department of Charente Maritime set up a network of 14 Pôles-Nature (Nature Spots), protected natural sites dedicated to the discovery of the local natural richness and offers excursions (the schedule for the excursions is available in the Tourism Office [Offices de Tourisme] of the department.
The Pôles-Nature follow three themes:
- Observe birds with, notably, the Marais aux oiseaux (Bird Marsh) on the Island of Oléron
- Set off in search of adventure with the Parc de l’estuaire, in Saint-Georges-de-Didonne, and the Pôle nature de Vitrezay on the estuary ofGironde
- Discover the traditions and the know-hows with the l’Ecomusée of the Saltern, in Loix-en-Ré The Park of the estuary is located at the pointe de Suzac, at the very south end of the beach of Saint-Georges-de-Didonne. It explains the natural and human history of the largest estuary in Europe, the estuary of Gironde, formed by the confluence of the Dordogne River and the Garonne River. Outside, a walking trail takes the visitor on a botanical initiation.
The Village of Talmont is located about 15 kilometres from Colinette. It’s a magnificent site to visit. Its church is dedicated to St. Radegonde. The village is criss-crossed by flowery streets and offers a beautiful view of the estuary.
Hotel Restaurant Colinette **, 2 Cheminées Logis de France - info_at_colinette.fr |
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