The Ile de Ré salt marshes
The Ile de Ré salt marshes
During your camping holiday, discover another, wilder side of theIle de Ré, where the salt marshes stretch as far as the eye can see. Let us guide you and discover the secrets of white gold!
North-west of the Ile de Ré, the land of white gold
For centuries, salt has been the lifeblood of the Ile de Ré. Even today, some one hundred salt-makers harvest salt by hand, using traditional methods. Take advantage of your vacation on the Ile de Ré to join a guided tour of a working marsh. Admire the know-how of the salt-maker, discover how the fleur de sel forms on the surface of the water, and get to know the fauna and flora of the marshes (little egret, Belon shelduck, white stilt...).
Where to go?
All north of the island, from La Couarde to Les Portes-en-Ré, around the Fier d'Ars and the Loix peninsula, via the Lilleau des Niges and Saint Clément des Baleines nature reserves.
Things to see and do in the marsh :
- L'écomusée du Marais Salant (Loix): everything you need to know about the history of salt farming on the Ile de Ré, the profession of salt worker and how a salt marsh works.
- La coopérative des Sauniers (Ars-en-Ré): stock up on coarse salt, flavored salt, samphire, wild mustard and fleur de sel caramels!
Did you know?
Salt producers harvest around 250 grams of salt per liter of water, and all it takes is one rainstorm to wipe out several days' harvest!
