Charente-Maritime Vacation Rentals

With over 100 safe, sandy beaches the Atlantic coast of Charente Maritime stretches from La Rochelle in the north to Royan in the south. La Rochelle is served by low-cost flights from Stansted, Manchester and Bristol. The ancient port of La Rochelle has the largest modern marina in Europe with over 3000 berths. The city itself has a great range of shops and restaurants and street activities, markets and musical events all year round. There is a superb marine aquarium, a fascinating maritime museum and you can take boat trips to Fort Boyard and the islands of Ré and Oléron. Plenty to do for a day out with the kids.

Rochefort has an enormous street market every Thursday and Saturday morning. The Hermione, a wooden frigate being built using traditional methods is also well worth a visit.

Catamarans and sailing boats can be hired from Fouras and the west coast of the Island of Oléron has some great surfing beaches. Fouras has a safe sandy beach with a tidal pool for swimming in when the tide has gone out.