La Côtinière, a stroll in the fresh air in the leading fishing port of the Charente region

Between land and sea, ports have always been vibrant places with a unique maritime atmosphere. If you enjoy strolling along the quays with your eyes fixed on the ocean, inhaling the scent of iodine and breathing in the fresh sea air, daydreaming while reading the names of the trawlers and their home ports, if you love the bright colors of the boats, then follow us… you will succumb to the charm of La Cotinière. Nestled in a bay on the west coast of the Île d'Oléron and sheltered from the prevailing winds, this small artisanal fishing port is the leading port in the Charente region and the 7^th largest in France. We invite you to discover this haven of peace imbued with authenticity!

Behind the scenes at the Cotinière fish market

Sole, hake, cuttlefish, line-caught sea bass, red mullet, turbot, gilthead seabream, bonito, monkfish, squid, octopus, langoustines… it's 3:30 pm at the Cotinière fish market, time for the regular daily sale, supplemented by an early morning sale between 4 and 5 am when there are large catches of fish, from Monday to Saturday morning inclusive. Trays of fish move along the conveyor belt in the auction hall. Seated on bleachers, about a hundred buyers—retailers, fishmongers, local restaurateurs, and those from all over France—will bid on the lots. To the untrained eye, the sale appears more like a stock exchange than a market hall (tours of the fish market are organized by the Tourist Office ). To follow along, you need to be familiar with the process and know the unwritten rules.

What they're really looking for are top-quality products, because La Cotinière has made quality its specialty, using respectful fishing techniques. Just look at the superb stalls at the La Victorine market, right on the port, where vendors sell seafood directly from the boats, fresh off the water , starting at 3:30 pm. There you'll find the day's catch, often prepared by the fishermen's wives who are happy to share their tips and local recipes. Here, quality and traceability standards guarantee freshness and showcase the bounty of the seafood on your plate!

Learn all about the local products of Charente-Maritime, from the sea to the land, including the vineyards.

In total, over 5,000 tons of 95 different species pass through the fish market each year, much to the delight of fish and seafood lovers. This wide variety of fish species is what makes La Cotinière famous, made possible by the proximity of the fishing grounds and the flexibility of the fleet, which comprises around one hundred boats ranging from 9 to 21 meters (approximately forty trawlers and fifty multi-purpose crabbers). As a result, nearly 250 sailors set sail from La Cotinière: an important part of the Oléron community, a guardian of an ancestral heritage.

The most beautiful ports of Charente-Maritime.

An unusual getaway to discover

Fishing has shaped the identity of La Cotinière 's port over the centuries. This artisanal port has two faces: one in summer, when the quays overflow with visitors who come to enjoy seafood platters, savor a delicious ice cream, and breathe in the fresh sea air to escape the daily grind. The other, more intimate, is revealed only in the off-season, when the tourists have left and the port's life is punctuated by the mesmerizing ballet of boats coming and going with the tides.

A fascinating microcosm then unfolds before the eyes of those who contemplate it! In every season, this unusual place immerses visitors in the authentic atmosphere of a port: the cries of seagulls, the sound of halyards hitting the masts, the piles of fishing nets on the quays, and the traps of brown crabs, spider crabs, and lobsters reminiscent of fishing techniques of yesteryear. Shellfish and crustaceans are also plentiful: Marennes-Oléron oysters, of course, but also whelks, clams, limpets, cockles, periwinkles…

Here, the delights of the sea are not lost on anyone, and certainly not on the gourmets seated in the excellent restaurants of the port , such as L'Amiral, La Sardinerie, L'Assiette du Capitaine, or Le Local, a must-try. On the benches facing the port, you can also enjoy the traditional Fish & Chips at Le Merluchon, served on the go with homemade fries and coveted by the seagulls. A real treat!

But the village of La Cotinière holds other surprises for visitors to the island of Oléron. Between April and October, more than 70 shops and restaurants bring the town centre to life (including Sundays) as well as the local producers' market every morning (off-season, from Monday to Saturday).

In July and August, the port of La Cotinière comes alive every evening from 6 pm: night market, funfair, street performances. As for shopping, La Cotinière's reputation speaks for itself! Discovering this fishing port is also the perfect opportunity to stock up on boots, Breton striped shirts, and nautical and beach-themed décor. Between gastronomy, local expertise, and culture, fishing gives La Cotinière its unique character!

For a stay a few minutes' walk from the port of La Cotinière, we recommend the Hôtel île de Lumière, perfect for a family holiday.

Fishing on the island of Oléron: a history full of nets

Visiting La Cotinière is to understand a large part of the island's past. This port powerfully recounts the history of fishing on the Île d'Oléron. In the past, this port was merely a natural harbor. A few isolated villagers practiced fishing, but oyster farming and market gardening constituted the bulk of the economic activity.

In the 1860s, a new type of fishing was introduced to La Cotinière: sardine fishing became a real success in the Bay of Biscay. The port then opened itself to seasonal fishing, offering sardines, shrimp, lobsters, and more. In 1908, a sardine cannery was established opposite the port, which prospered. The fishing fleet evolved after the two World Wars, transitioning from sail to motor. In 1973, a new basin was built, as the port had become too small to accommodate its fleet. New facilities were developed to modernize the port infrastructure: construction of an ice factory, restructuring of the fish market, a dedicated roadway for sailors, etc. Today, this traditional fishing continues with around a hundred boats practicing trawling, netting, line fishing, potting, and dredging. A cultural heritage to be preserved!