Brouage and its surroundings, a fortified city not to be missed…

Hiers-Brouage
Culture and Heritage

Just a stone's throw from Marennes and its oysters lies the captivating fortified town of Brouage. A port of commerce, naval defense, and oyster farming, Brouage (listed among the most beautiful villages in France ) is a surprising stronghold. A journey back in time and a truly moving experience await you. Don't forget your binoculars and sturdy shoes for walking along the ramparts. Come join us!

Brouage, a fortified town worth visiting

Brouage has suffered from the region's historical upheavals. It was in the second half of the 20th century that it was restored. Just 6 km from Marennes, it's close to the coast, but rather in the marshlands. You're greeted by the Royal Gate and Bastion, and just beyond are large parking areas. During the tourist season (April 1^st – September 30th), guided tours offered by the Tourist Office allow you to discover the town's history and architecture. The rest of the year, don't hesitate to visit Brouage, which remains a beautiful place year-round (even if some shops close outside the peak tourist season).

Interpretive panels throughout the city

Bicycle Museum in Brouage

Did you know? Throughout the city, there is an interpretive trail in the form of information panels, which allow you to understand the different faces of the city through the centuries.

Don't miss the Bicycle Museum right in the middle of the fortified city, it's really great! Open from May to mid-September.

For a time, Brouage was a strategic location for the salt trade, as well as for military navigation, before Rochefort stole the show! Take a stroll around to see the Royal Forge, the Provisions Hall, the Saint-Luc Powder Magazine, and the Church of Saint-Pierre de Brouage. Climb (with good shoes and keeping a close eye on young children) onto the ramparts to admire the marshes. Canals and salt meadows stretch out before you, and sometimes animals graze… In spring, nature bursts into life, offering a vibrant and diverse palette of colors to these expanses. After summer, everything is more tanned by the sun, which dazzles on the silvery grasses and the reflections on the water. Those who enjoy walking and birdwatching will be happy to spot swans, egrets, herons, gulls and storks feeding in this ecosystem.

The marshes around the city, a preserved environment

The marshes through the watchtower holes

Graffiti from all times and all ages

The watchtowers, turrets at the four corners of the city to protect it

Brouage is one of the "most beautiful villages of France" in Charente-Maritime.

Your holidays in the Brouage region

Around the citadel of Brouage, the landscape unfolds into a labyrinth of channels and oyster beds where the renowned local oyster matures. To savor these briny pearls, simply follow the roads that wind through the marshland towards the neighboring towns. Between land and sea, producers' huts dot the banks of the Seudre River and the coastline, offering authentic respite.

Whether on the port of Marennes, at the foot of the majestic bridge, or in the charming oyster-farming villages of Bourcefranc-le-Chapus and Le Gua, the experience is the same: a tasting right "at the oyster hut." Here, you can appreciate the delicate flavor of " Fine de Claire " or " Pousse en Claire " oysters, often accompanied by a glass of local white wine and buttered bread, overlooking the oyster beds that reveal themselves with the rhythm of the tides. It's a direct immersion in Charente's oyster-making expertise, just a few minutes from the historic ramparts.