What to do in Charente Maritime in winter?

We have concocted a program of fun and original activities to make your winter stay in Charente-Maritime unforgettable! Charente-Maritime is appreciated for its beaches and its frontage on the Atlantic, its archipelago of islands, the picturesque villages of its mouth, the Poitevin marshes and its country of Aunis, the Saintonge and its wine-growing region… These beautiful territories offer many activities in all seasons. Whether you are a lover of old stones, history, culture, or rather sporty, gourmet, or just a curious visitor, you will love it.

Opening : © tunach17 / Adobe Stock

Visit a typical monument of maritime heritage : the lighthouses

In Charente-Maritime, there are many lighthouses to visit, whether on the islands, at sea or on the coast. Here is our "Top 3 lighthouses":

• The Baleines lighthouse is located on the Île de Ré and allows you to take a nice walk on the coastal path to the Conche beach, to climb to the top of the lighthouse to enjoy a 360° panoramic view and to learn about maritime markings in the museum.

• On the island of Oléron, it is the Chassiron lighthouse which will offer you a beautiful point of view, particularly on Fort Boyard. The museum tells the story of the life of the people of Oléron, between land and sea. At its foot, there is a beautiful garden in the shape of a compass rose to visit.

• At La Tremblade, the Coubre lighthouse is open from February to November. You will appreciate a magnificent viewpoint over the Gironde estuary. You can learn about the history of the lighthouse in its museum.

Discover the history of the region through its castles

The region has been very coveted over its long history: the Romans, the Franks, the Bretons and especially the English! You will discover a very varied panel of fortifications, from the very first in the Middle Ages to the most modern on the plans of Vauban...

• The Château de la Roche-Courbon offers you, in addition to a guided tour of this "Historic Monument" and a walk in its "Remarkable Gardens", many activities : Castle game, Prehistozen, old games, course for children...

• The castle of Dampierre-sur-Boutonne has a long history to tell you. It is a very lively castle where events and original visits take place regularly.

• The medieval city of Pons offers many points of interest. We take you on a discovery tour of Pons and its historical treasures. The tourist office offers you a "circuit in the alleys of Pons" and you can book guided tours there.

Satisfy your curiosity in museums

Inhabited since prehistoric times, this territory has a long and tumultuous history, which has given rise to many traditions, left a rich heritage and   inspired by artists… This is what to learn and cultivate in the museums of the region.

To select a museum to visit according to your tastes and your current desire, here is our full article on all the museums of Charente Maritime and a small selection by category:

• Environment and nature: Ecomuseum of the Marais Salant (fr), in Loix on the Ile de Ré.

• History: The "Le Bunker" (fr) Museum in La Rochelle is a veritable bunker built in the city center during the Second World War and remained intact for 70 years! A very unusual visit awaits you there.

• Old trades and traditions of yesteryear: Museum of yesteryear shops, in Rochefort.

• Around the sea: the Aquarium of La Rochelle (fr).

• Arts: Museum of Fine Arts (fr) of La Rochelle.

• Sciences: Museum of Natural History (fr), in La Rochelle.

• Games and leisure: Museum of Automata and scale models (fr) of La Rochelle.

Explore the picturesque villages of Charente-Maritime

Are you a fan of old stones? No doubt, you will be served in Charente-Maritime. There are so many that the choice will be difficult. So we made you a small selection of the essentials:

• Talmond-sur-Gironde, a fortified city on the edge of the Gironde estuary.

• Brouage, another strategic and fortified place, between the coast and the marshes.

• Mornac-sur-Seudre, in the heart of the mouth.

• The oyster port of La Tremblade (fr).

• The typical and authentic port of l'Houmeau.

If you miss the city, La Rochelle (fr) has many facets, many monuments and museums to visit and the tourist office offers fascinating guided tours. Here is an overview of the main points of interest in La Rochelle.

Taste local products and regional specialties

For the gourmands, we give you some ideas to taste the local gastronomy, through its many local and sea products and its warm and friendly cuisine.

You already need good local products! We offer you an overview of the gourmet flavors between land and sea of the region. And to find them, several options are available to you:

• Take a tour of the village markets or the central market in Royan (fr) or in a farmers' market, such as the Ferme des producteurs Ré-unis, in Bois-Plage-en-Ré, which brings together many producers on the Île de Ré.

• Go to local producers. Among others, for the island of Ré : the Sauniers of the island of Ré ; Algae from Île de Ré ; Réostréa oysters. Charente-Maritime is also a producer of kiwis, in particular Kiwis de Meux.

Then you need a good recipe and get in the kitchen! Otherwise, we offer you addresses of restaurants and oyster bars that will delight you without tiring you!

And to accompany all these regional specialties, we make you discover the wine terroir of Charente-Maritime. At the moment, it is the Cognac distillation period, this is a good opportunity to do wine tourism and visit the vineyards of Charente-Maritime.

Practice a sport in nature

In winter, we tend to lock ourselves inside. But in the region, the ocean gives us a little warmth and it is rarely very cold. In addition, the sea air is so invigorating that it is a pleasure to do a little sport, especially after all those good meals. We invite you to admire the panoramas of the coast and the beaches, with this exceptional winter light, or to explore the Charente hinterland. Here are our most beautiful walks:

• Discover the squares, an original heritage by the water...

• Take a romantic stroll at the end of the day to enjoy the sunsets on the Ile de Ré.

• Get off the beaten track during an unusual winter walk on the Ile de Ré.

• Take a tour of the blue lakes of Touvérac.

• Hike in the forest of Double Saintongeaise and take full view with the 50 shades of blue of Lake Guizengeard.

If you are more of a cyclist, we have grouped together the great cycling tours of Charente-Maritime for you. If you want to know more, do not hesitate to consult the tourist office site and its “by bike” section : Infiniment Charente.

Didn't you take your equipment? No problem, go to a rental agency.

One last tip for the road: To never get lost again, download the Loopi Vélo (fr) application, also created by the tourist office.

Relax in the wellness centers

After sport, comfort... It is high time to take care of yourself and recharge your batteries to recharge your batteries! Here are the addresses of balneotherapy areas, hammams, saunas, etc.

For a stay of relaxation and well-being, we recommend a holiday at Gîtes et Spa La Charmaie in Aigrefeuille-d'Aunis.

We hope that these few ideas have inspired you for the next winter holidays in Charente Maritime.

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Article written by Stéphanie Tempier for the Guide de la Charente Maritime.