Le Fier and its marshes

Now you can head for a hike in the heart of nature, in one of the wildest places of the island and one of the richest places in fauna and flora: le Fier d’Ars.

This huge 800 hectare bay is a propitious place to observe birds, to fish by foot, to raise oysters and for many hikes. Cycling paths go through the Fier and offer kilometres of stunning landscape. It is a magical hike that we highly recommend! You can sometimes see the salt workers in action and you can take the opportunity to buy some white gold from the île de Ré, the salt, directly along the paths.

The villages of Loix, Ars-en-Ré, Saint-Clément-des-Baleines and Les Portes border this haven of peace.

Loix is the smallest village of the île de Ré. Labeled Cittaslow, it advocates total relaxation, gentleness, taste and the pleasure of living. Here, time has stopped and we enjoy to the fullest the quiet and genuine charm of this picturesque little village.

This little village is linked to the rest of the island by a sole stretch of sand boarded by salt marshes and cycling paths.
To bathe, head for the plage du Grouin, arch-shaped, and overlooked by a small fortress. You will be enchanted by its turquoise waters.

Don’t forget to visit the Ecomusée du marais salant  (salt marshes eco museum) to know everything about the way the salt marshes history and the way the current ones are still operated.

With its 14kms of coasts and salt marshes, its church square and its activities rooted in country life (soup contest, snail racing etc.), you will spend a true slice of holiday in this village.


Les Portes-en-Ré is the village most northerly of the Ile de Ré. Is it the wildest? It just might be so! On the splendid Trousse-Chemise beach, facing the open sea and America, the feeling of freedom is extraordinary! This beach is facing the wood (le bois) of the same name, celebrated by Charles Aznavour in his song « Dans l’île de Ré ».

The famous banc du bûcheron, a vast stretch of white sand which is only uncovered at low tide, is an emblematic location of Les Portes, ideal for pictures and picnics (beware of the tide!).
At the end of its beaches, the Patache cove is a true oasis of beauty and will allow you to put your boat at sea.

The village in itself is charming, with its lovely alleyways, its typical wells and its traditional stonewalls.
Les Portes, also hosts its Maison du Fier, an ecomuseum which will make you discover the splendours of the Ré fauna and flora in a playful and interactive way. It is exciting for all the family!
And of course, its splendid natural reserve of the Lilleau des Niges, it is a wild and preserved haven, where thousands of birds nest or rest from their migrations. Take your binocular, and observe black geese, shelducks, oystercatcher, avocets, herons, spoonbills… More than 330 different species have been identified here! If you want to know more, quickly book a guided tour of the site with the LPO (similar to the RSPB).