Ile de Ré

In 1988 a spectacular, 3km-long, arching toll bridge was built over the sea to take people from the mainland and deliver them to this sleepy but popular white-sanded island. Ile de Ré is rich in seafood, especially oysters, and has an abundance of salt flats. The result is that almost every shop on the island sells fleur de sel de l’Ile de Ré.

The island has two sides: the sheltered west side has calm, flat seas, whereas the east side offers large, rolling waves from the Atlantic and is a windy paradise for wind and kite surfers. The food on the island is good as many people from Paris visit for holidays and weekends, so a high standard is demanded. Oysters, which are produced on the island, are served abundantly here, and a huge variety of excellent-quality fresh seafood is on offer in all the restaurants. Of all the places I’ve visited in France, this is where I have eaten the best seafood, and it comes straight from the fisherman’s boat to the kitchen. To complement the fish, the island also produces a good crop of potatoes that have their own AOC, salad leaves, herbs and soft fruits. Vineyards, which are found all over the island, make simple red, white and rosé vins de pays that are mostly produced by co-operatives, and the island also has its own distinctive, slightly spicy, dark mahogany Cognac. In the high summer months the Ile de Ré teems with cyclists meandering their way through the many vineyards.