Camping Vendée » Visit the Château d'Oléron

The castle of Oléron , a multi-faceted coastal town

The island of Oléron hides many treasures. One of them is the feudal castle in the town that bears its name. The Citadelle du Château-d’Oléron is one of the jewels of France’s largest island after Corsica. You’ll also be seduced by this authentic little Charente-Maritime village, with its oyster huts, some of which have been transformed into artists’ cabins, its port and its varied crafts. Guided tour just a few steps from your Saint-Tro-Park campsite in Oléron

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The citadel of the Château d’Oléron

The peaceful shores of the Ile d’Oléron weren’t always so. Built on the island’s south-eastern coast, the citadel of Château-d’Oléron is one of the most remarkable defensive structures in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. Seen from the air, the star-shaped fortress was built by engineer Pierre D’Argencourt in 1630, on the orders of Richelieu. Richelieu was the first to understand the strategic importance of the island of Oleron. Before Vauban completed the work around 1700, Louis Nicolas de Cerville modified and enlarged it. Today, you can climb the citadel walls to discover a marvellous panorama of the Pertuis d’Antioche. From left to right, you can see the Pointe de Boyardville, with Fort Boyard, then the Ile d’Aix, Fort Enet and Fort Louvois. The view is breathtaking and the visit memorable!

From fishermen’s huts to artists’ studios

Craftsmanship, creativity and solidarity are the words that best characterize these authentic huts on the Atlantic coast. Installed along the channels of the marshes (notably the Chenal d’Ors) and the southern ditch of the citadel, these oyster huts were once the place to work oysters, the island’s gastronomic flagship. Today, oysters are shipped in a different way. Most of these old shacks have been restored to serve asstudios for artists and craftspeople, who exhibit their work here. Did you know that, historically, the color of the walls and shutters was due to the paint left on the boats?

The little train at the castle of Oléron

How would you like to spend your camping vacation on the little train at Château-d’Oléron? Departing from the citadel parking lot, it takes you on a tour of the city steeped in history. The commentary on board will tell you all about Château-d’Oléron. On this 5 km ride for history buffs, visitors and enlightened tourists, many secrets will be revealed. An activity not to be missed!

La Phibie beach

Hidden behind the pine trees, La Phibie beach is a very pleasant spot. Specially designed for those seeking peace and quiet, children and parents alike will feel right at home here. It’s a lovely little beach with a view of the citadel! What more could you ask for?

The forts: Boyard, Enet and Louvois

Mastodons of the seas, monuments of war abandoned in the middle of the sea – there’s no shortage of superlatives. These forts, which surround the island’s southeast coast between Pont d’Oléron, Château-d’Oléron and Boyardville, stand proudly in the Atlantic. Remnants of past defensive constructions, the best-known, Fort Boyard, can only be visited by boat. On the other hand, Fort Louvois and Fort Enet can be visited from the inside! Fort Louvois is a fortification located on the Chapus rock. It was built by Vauban under Louis XIV. Fort Enet is one of the many forts on the Atlantic coast. It’s also accessible on foot! Unforgettable visits, whether solo, with friends or family!

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