Page 410 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - France

o 21 INSIDER TIP
Brouage Rochefort Cycling Île
d’Oléron
! B5 ⌂ Charente-Maritime ! B5 ⌂ Charente-Maritime Île d’Oléron is ideal for
n 2 rue de l’Hospital; www. £ @ n Av Sadi-Carnot;
brouage-tourisme.fr www.rochefort-ocean.com exploring by bicycle. It
has well-kept dedicated
Cardinal Richelieu’s fortress at The historic rival of La Rochelle, paths and the landscape
is blissfully flat. Bikes
Rochefort was purpose-built
Brouage once overlooked a
EXPERIENCE Poitou and Aquitaine 18th century, as the ocean France, producing over 300 22
for all ages can be hired
by Colbert in the 17th century
thriving harbour, but its wealth
from over a dozen shops
to be the greatest shipyard in
and population declined in the
on the island.
receded. In 1659, Marie Mancini
sailing vessels per year. This
was sent into exile here by her
maritime heritage can be
traced in the beautifully
uncle, Cardinal Mazarin, who
restored 17th-century Corderie
did not approve of her liaison
Île d’Oléron
with Louis XIV. The king never
Royale. The building houses
an exhibition on ropemaking.
forgot the beautiful Marie. On
! B4 ⌂ Charente-Maritime
his way back from his wedding, The Musée National de la
he stayed alone at Brouage in
La Rochelle, Saintes then
the room once occupied by his the ships built in the arsenal.
bus g From La Rochelle (in
Rochefort is also the birth-
first great love. Today the
summer) n 22 rue Dubois
place of the writer Pierre Loti
ramparts are a peaceful place Marine displays models of ~ La Rochelle £ Rochefort,
Meynardie, Marennes;
to stroll and admire the view. (1850–1923) – his house, the www.oleron-island.com
stately Maison de Pierre Loti,
is undergoing extensive reno- Accessible from the mainland
20 vations; some rooms are open. by bridge, Oléron is France’s
second-largest island after
Talmont-sur-Gironde Corderie Royale Corsica, and a highly popular
! C5 ⌂ Charente-Maritime " ' \ = ⌂ Centre holiday resort. Its south coast,
n Rue de l’École; www. International de la Mer, the Côte Sauvage, is beauti-
talmont-sur-gironde.fr rue Audebert # Hours fully lined with sweeping
vary, check website dunes and emerald green
Talmont is a jewel of a village, ¢ 1, 7–25 Jan, 25 Dec pine forest. There are some
packed full of little white ∑ corderie-royale.com particularly excellent beaches
houses and colourful holly- at Grande Plage (found near
hocks in sum mer. The tiny Musée National La Cotinière) and Vert Bois, and
Roman esque Église Ste- de la Marine a series of colourful ports.
Radegonde is perched on a " = ⌂ Pl de la Gallissonnière The town of Château d’Oléron
spit of land overlooking the # Apr–Sep: 10am–7pm daily; is home to a magnificent
Gironde. Built in 1094, the Oct–Mar: 1:30–6pm Wed–Mon citadel. The north of the island
church’s apse was designed to ¢ Jan, 1 May, 25 Dec is used for winegrowing,
resemble the prow of a ship. ∑ musee-marine.fr farming and fishing.
Fishermen hoping for
a catch at sunset, on
the island of Oléron

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