Where to go in Saint-Georges d’Oléron: 7 well-known (and lesser-known) places to discover!

Published on 03/2024 in: Ile d’Oléron

Every month, the St-Tro Park campsite introduces you to a different commune on the Ile d’Oléron. This time, we’re heading for Saint-Georges d’Oléron, for a cocktail of nature, culture and encounters. Off you go!

Saint-Georges d’Oléron in brief

Bordered to the north by La Brée-les-Bains and to the south by Saint-Pierre d’Oléron, Saint-Georges d’Oléron is the largest commune on the Ile d’Oléron, with a surface area of 4,700 hectares and numerous villages and hamlets.

With just under 4,000 inhabitants, classified as a tourist resort and awarded the Village fleuri label, Saint-Georges d’Oléron offers all the attractions of a seaside village between beaches, forests and marshes, with Fort Boyard in its sights! You’re sure to come back with a head full of beautiful memories and a smartphone full of photos!

Boyardville beach, La Gautrelle, Les Saumonards…

Saint-Georges d’Oléron boasts over 16 km of beaches. Boyardville beach is one of the most popular, not least for its Pavillon Bleu-approved swimming and its breathtaking view of Fort Boyard. The beaches of La Gautrelle and Les Saumonards are also among the most beautiful on the Ile d’Oléron. The hardest part is choosing!

Boyardville harbour

Ever heard of Boyardville, the town of Fort Boyard? Boyardville is the “economic lungs” of the commune, with its marina and numerous shops and restaurants. Surrounded to the north by the Saumonards forest and to the south by the Fort Royer oyster-farming site, this village attached to Saint-Georges-d’Oléron served as a base camp for the construction of Fort Boyard. Today, Boyardville is the starting point for numerous boat excursions to the famous fort and the Ile d’Aix.

Sauzelle salt marshes

In Sauzelle, a hamlet of Saint-Georges-d’Oléron nicknamed the “witch’s village” by writer Pierre Loti, the salt marshes have resumed their activity after a century of dormancy. From mid-June to the end of September, visitors can discover how salt is harvested and the work of the salt-maker. For those with a sweet tooth: on the road between Sauzelle and Boyardville, at the Port de la Saurine, Cristal du Saulnier offers direct sales of salt, fleur de sel, flavored salt, caramels and salted butter chocolates.

The Chaucre bread oven

North-west of Saint-Georges-d’Oléron, discover the small village of Chaucre, known to a select few for its bread oven built in 1787. This oven once served all the families in the old village. On “bread festival” days, it is rekindled with vine shoots to bake “boules de campagne” and “merveilles”, the region’s typical doughnuts.

The Prés Valet leisure park

In a 14-hectare green setting not far from the village of Saint-Georges, the Prés Valet leisure park attracts families in search of outdoor activities. In summer, small electric boats allow you to cruise on the Prés Valet pond. Fishing competitions are also organized. A guinguette, picnic tables, children’s games, a zip line and a fitness trail complete the leisure offer.

Markets in Saint-Georges-d’Oléron

In the heart of the village of Saint-Georges, next to the 11th-century Romanesque church, a pretty market is held under the halles on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday mornings from April to the end of June, and every day in July and August. Further afield, the Domino market is the largest seasonal market in the commune. From April to mid-September, some fifty traders come to offer their wares at very reasonable prices. The Boyardville market, near the marina, also features fresh local produce. As an added bonus, a night market awaits you every evening in July and August. Finally, the Chéray market is the only market in the commune open all year round. Visit us on chemin de la Porte Rouge, every day except Monday.

photo@@City of Saint-Georges-d’Oleron (Douhet marina)