What to see and do in La Brée-les-Bains:
The 5 things you shouldn’t miss!
With its beach in the heart of the village, its colorful alleyways and its landscaped seafront, La Brée-les-Bains is one of the most picturesque spots on the Ile d’Oléron. What’s there to see and do in this friendly little seaside resort? Follow the guide!
La Brée-les-Bains: the village
Nestled between Saint-Georges-d’Oléron and Saint-Denis-d’Oléron, behind a small dune, La Brée-les-Bains is one of the smallest communes on the Ile d’Oléron, with some 800 inhabitants, but also one of the oldest. Despite its strong tourist appeal, the village has managed to preserve its tranquility, and its inhabitants their way of life, with flower-lined alleyways and low, white-fronted houses.
In summer, the La Brée market is the heartbeat of the village, attracting crowds of tourists on vacation to Oléron. It’s held on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings. In the center of the village, you’ll be amazed by the Notre-Dame de l’Assomption church, a small church with an unusual bell tower built on the site of a former wine storehouse. Behind Rue Pasteur, another local curiosity awaits you. Note the large pole against the wall. This is a fish pole, or “parour”, once used to dry fish in the sun, away from flies.
La Brée-les-Bains: beach side
Ideally located just a stone’s throw from the village, Planginot beach is a small, peaceful, family-friendly beach of fine sand, where it’s easy to go for a swim. The beach is supervised in July and August, and there are plenty of amenities along the seawall path.
During the summer season, the beach is animated by the “Les Petits Goëlands” club for children and teenagers. The volleyball club organizes matches in the shade of century-old cypress trees. With the arrival of fine weather, water sports are also in the spotlight: sailing, paddle, windsurfing and jet skiing. At low tide,
The seafront promenade
The seafront is a delight for walkers and cyclists. The bevy of colorful beach cabins will take you back to the days of the first sea baths. The promenade offers beautiful views of
La Brée mill
The Moulin de La Fontaine is La Brée’s oldest monument. It dates back to the 15th century and has recently been restored to working order. A miller produces flour with his millstone. You can visit the mill to learn about cereal-growing techniques on the island of Oleron and how a windmill works.
– Access: Rue de la Baudette, 17840 La Brée-les-Bains. For further information, call 05 17 25 05 49 or visit www.moulin-de-la-bree.fr
Visit the salt marshes
The salt marshes of Oléron, once very numerous, are an integral part of the natural and historical heritage of La Brée-les-Bains. If you’re curious about nature, set off to discover the salt marshes in the company of a salt worker. He’ll explain how a salt works and the different stages in the salt harvest. At the end of the tour, there’s a small store where you can buy salt directly from the producer.
– Visits to the salt marsh from mid-June to the end of September. Le Grain de sel and/or le Cristal du saulnier d’Oléron: Marais de L’Ileau, La Brée-les-Bains.
photo@ OT IOMN / S.Breffy
