Ars en Ré

Ars-En-Ré on the Ile de Ré in Charente Maritime, France

Ars-en-Ré is a charming village on the Ile de Ré. Situated on the west coast of the island, it is one of the must-see villages on the Ile de Ré.

The village of Ars-en-Ré is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on its south coast, and the Fier d’Ars and salt marshes on its north coast. In and around Ars-en-Ré, you’ll find unspoilt countryside and exceptional flora and fauna, the likes of which can only be found on the Ile de Ré.

Ars-En-Ré: the charm of Rhaetan villages

An enchanting village, Ars-en-Ré will charm you with its typically Rhaeto-Roman decor and authentic atmosphere. Its luminous lanes lined with hollyhocks, its little white houses with green shutters and its welcoming terraces overlooking the harbor form a charming whole.

In the heart of the old town or around the harbour, you can stroll between the stores to discover local products: donkey’s milk soaps, salt and samphire, pineau, cognac, sardines and Ars jams. In summer, the picturesque market square is alive with the rhythm of the merry-go-round and poetic street shows.

In Ars, you feel you’re in the heart of the island, in its narrowest part, between marsh and ocean, a thin strip of land that links the ports and fortified villages to the wilder, more westerly territories.

Places to visit in Ars en Ré

Ars-en-Ré is also one of France’s most beautiful villages. It owes this status to its character and remarkable heritage (such as its many old buildings and residences).

The village of Ars en Ré is built around its church, topped by a black-and-white bell tower that still serves as a landmark for boats. Right next door, you can admire “La Maison du Sénéchal”, a superb Renaissance dwelling with turrets, formerly owned by the Governor of the Île de Ré.

You’ll also enjoy strolling through the narrow streets of Ars-en-Ré, a village of hollyhocks and white houses with traditional green shutters, which have earned the Ile de Ré the nickname Ré la Blanche.

The village’s 18th-century harbour is also well worth a stroll. Access by boat is via the Fier d’Ars (an 800-hectare stretch of inland water bordered by marshes) and then up the channel. The Port d’Ars is at the heart of the village, where every morning in summertime you’ll find the market and Donin’s famous “carousel”!

Le Clocher d’Ars en Ré

In the old town of Ars-en-Ré, the 15th-century church is one of the oldest on the island. It marks the village from afar with the black-painted spire of its high belfry. In days gone by, it was the island itself that it signalled to sailors to help them navigate the channel.

Its black color makes it easily distinguishable in the sky, even when it’s cloudy or the sun is dazzling. The bell tower is open to the public: climbing it is a not-to-be-missed visit on the Ile de Ré! From the top of the building, you can enjoy an exceptional panorama of the salt marshes and the Fier d’Ars, which stretches as far as the Baleines lighthouse.

The church’s belfry is not Ars-en-Ré’s only remarkable built heritage: take advantage of your stroll through the town to admire the 16th-century mansion known as the “Maison du Sénéchal”, former home of the island’s Renaissance governor. The former Tortillard station, a small train that served the island’s villages from the late 19th century until the 1930s, awaits you on the port.

Ars en Ré salt marshes and oysters

You can also visit the salt marshes and oyster beds. L’Huitrière de Ré is open to the public to learn more about oyster farming. Take a detour to the Coopérative des Sauniers to buy salt and other local products.

The bike paths and hiking trails starting from the port are ideal for admiring the unspoilt nature of this small village on the Ile de Ré, particularly its beautiful sandy beach.
Admire the birds and other animals that inhabit the salt marshes and vineyards, and discover the exceptional landscapes along the way.