Ile de Re

Description

Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction.

Where do Parisians like to vacation? The quiet 18-mile long island called Ile de Ré. Sandy beaches, a romantic atmosphere, quaint villages and medieval ruins all add to getaway pleasures that Ile de Ré is famous for.

Get acquainted with this treasured isle with a half-day tour that also includes free time on your own. Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a camera to capture the sights. You will also be free to choose when and where you have lunch, and are advised to bring plenty of Euros to cover your expenses.

After boarding your coach at the pier it's just a short drive over the bridge that unites France with Ile de Ré. Once on the other side, you'll disembark at Saint-Martin-de-Ré, the island's picturesque capital.

From here, you'll set off on a walking tour through the cobblestone streets lined with charming 300-year-old buildings adorned with flowerboxes. Surrounding the village are the imposing fortified walls. Acclaimed by UNESCO as "the finest examples of the work of Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban, a military engineer of King Louis XIV," the walls were built to fend off British forces during the late 17th century.

After your guided tour enjoy some free time to take photos, shop or relax at a quaint café before rejoining your coach.

Then, you'll make your way to the northern part of Ile de Ré to the picture-perfect village of Ars-en-Re, renowned as one of the "most beautiful villages of France," a distinction that only 154 French villages share. Surrounded by the sea and salt marshlands, the village still employs salt workers who farm the marshes.

Once off the coach, you can stroll the village's winding streets past the tall spires of hollyhocks that bloom profusely around the lovely whitewashed houses adorned with traditional green shutters. Be sure to take a photo of the iconic church steeple whose 131-foot-tall black and white spire still serves as a landmark for sailors.

At the end of your tour you'll begin your journey back to La Rochelle. En route, you'll pass the through the port village of La Flotte-en-Ré and the site of L'Abbaye des Chateliers. Built by Cistercian monks in the 12th century, the abbey was pillaged and set on fire during the tumultuous battles with Britain. Today, its haunting remains hint at what was once, one of the great abbeys of west-central France.

Finally, you'll enjoy the short drive back to the ship, soaking up the picturesque views of this alluring little island.

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