The heritage of the island of Oléron is essentially oriented towards the sea. An exciting heritage to discover without moderation. Discovery!
The Robert Léglise shipyard
At Castle of Oleron, discover the Robert Léglise shipyard, the last local testimony to wooden shipbuilding. This shipyard is still in operation thanks to the association "Chantier Naval Robert Léglise" which works on the maintenance and repair of traditional Charente boats. Thanks to it, the century-old shipyard of the port of Château d'Oléron was saved, rehabilitated, and many of the island's traditional ships are starting a second life there.
It is also a museum open to the public, where tools, photos, plans, templates and the ancestral gestures of ship carpenters are presented. Open all year round on Wednesday mornings. From May to September: Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. (free admission).
Oyster huts
On the island of Oléron, the oyster huts are scattered among the clearings and along the channels of the marshes. They have always made the reputation of the island. This is where the oyster farmer works the oyster: stripping, sorting by size, selecting by shape, packaging. Today, most of the old oyster huts have been rehabilitated to serve as workshops for artists, craftsmen and restaurateurs.
These cabins are open all year round and are a permanent tourist and entertainment hub. Where to see these old, colorful oyster huts: Port des Salines, Château-d'Oléron, Saint-Trojan-les-Bains, Dolus d'Oléron (la Baudissière) or Fort-Royer in Saint-Pierre d'Oléron.
Fish locks
Like the oyster huts, the fish locks (also called fisheries) are part of the Oléron maritime landscape. Inherited from the Middle Ages, these fixed traps are formed of a dry stone wall several hundred meters long in the shape of a horseshoe. When the tide goes out, the fish are trapped inside the locks. These fishing grounds also help protect the coastline by breaking the swell offshore.
There are currently 14 fish locks in operation on the island of Oléron. Between Saint-Denis and La Brée, three fully restored locks are easily accessible at low tide. Be careful, these structures are very fragile. Only the owners of these locks have the right to fish there.
The Oyster City
Cradle of French oyster farming, the Marennes-Oléron basin is the first European oyster center. On the banks of the Cayenne channel, the Cité de l'Huître de Marennes-Oléron invites you to discover the largest oyster refining marsh in Europe.
Between the claires, river and ocean, discover all the secrets of this small shellfish, oyster farming, its people and their history through themed cabins. Many activities, aimed in particular at families, including geocaching, are organized. They even lend bikes to discover "the Chemin des claires" (discovery trail). Did you know? Marennes-Oléron oysters benefit from the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) label. La Pousse en Claire and Fine de Claire verte also have the red label.
The Chassiron lighthouse
At the northern tip of the island of Oléron, near the town of Saint-Denis-d'Oléron, the Chassiron lighthouse is the oldest active lighthouse in the Charente-Maritime department. Commissioned on December 1, 1836 to guide sailors at the entrance to the Pertuis d'Antioche, the Chassiron lighthouse was originally all white. Three black stripes were added in 1926 to make it more visible during the day, and to differentiate it from its neighbor on the Île de Ré, the Phare des Baleines. The full staircase, where you cannot see the void, is another particularity of this monument.
At a height of 46 m, it has 224 steps. The highest point on the island, the lighthouse platform offers a 360-degree view of the northern half of the island of Oléron, the ocean, the Pertuis d'Antioche, the Rochelaise coast, the islands of Aix and Ré, not to mention the famous Fort Boyard. Now fully automated and permanently monitored from La Rochelle, the lighthouse is open to visitors all year round.
Photo credit: Elsa COEFFE / CMT