The best traffic-free bike rides around La Brée-Les-Bains

Perfectly accessible on foot or by bike from the Port du Douet parking lot, this beach is sublime like all those on the island of Oleron

lol lol lol

The port of Douhet, located in the commune of Saint-Georges-d’Oléron, is today a pleasant marina, but its history is intimately linked to the salt and wine trade. Origins Until the 19th century, the region's products (notably salt from the salt marshes and wine from Oléron) were difficult to transport by sea. To remedy this, a vast project was launched in the 1840s: a channel over 3 km long was dug between Saint-Georges-d’Oléron and the ocean, opening onto the new port of Douhet. An active commercial port The port quickly became an export center: * barges loaded salt and wine barrels there; * boats also brought building materials and various goods intended for the island. In the 1870s, there were around 400 ship movements per year, with several thousand tons of goods imported and exported. The decline At the end of the 19th century, several factors led to its decline: * the gradual abandonment of the salt marshes; * the improvement of roads and then the arrival of the tram on the island; * the regular silting up of the channel. After the First World War, the channel silted up almost completely and commercial traffic gradually disappeared. The revival In the late 1980s, the basin was completely rehabilitated and transformed into a marina. It now accommodates around 350 to 400 boats and is one of the main marinas on the island of Oléron. Its location, in the cove of Malconche, offers a remarkable view of Fort Boyard and the Île d’Aix. The old channel, although no longer navigable to the village, continues to supply seawater to the old salt marshes and today constitutes a pleasant walking or cycling route. It is a place where the traces of Oléron's maritime past can still be read in the landscape: the quays, the bridge, the channel, and the old hydraulic structures bear witness to the era when salt was the island's main wealth.

This path, which runs along the sea between La Bree-les-Bains and Saint-Denis, has the advantage of being dotted on one side with century-old pine trees whose height is dizzying, and on the other with dunes with beaches not only for swimming but also for the life of the animal species that inhabit them, whose survival depends on our attitude. The shade provided by the trees and the sea spray make it a very pleasant walk in hot weather.

At high tide, the ocean comes “up to your feet” (so to speak).

Since 1889, the entire family has dedicated its expertise to the vineyard. The island of Oléron exudes a charm and a luxurious charm that are reflected in the subtle and delicate aromas of its cognac and its unparalleled range of regional products. Discover an estate where the sea gives the land the color of its vines. Thanks to centuries of experience in winemaking, you'll discover not only craftsmanship but also an art of living. Source: https://www.maxime-pinard.fr/vignoble-ile-oleron/

Bird sanctuary, protected on this side by a fence, but there are plenty of water birds to see.

The port of Douhet is essentially the mouth of the Douhet Canal. There are several nice restaurants nearby.