What if you took advantage of your camping stay to discover the salt marshes of the island of Oléron This is what the Port des Salines in Grand-Village-Plage, a small seaside resort in the southwest of the island of Oléron, offers you. An experience full of surprises for the whole family!
A guided tour to discover the art of salt making
Located in the commune of Grand-Village-Plage, the Port des Salines is a nature center entirely dedicated to the history of Oléron salt production and artisanal sea salt production techniques.
The best way to discover the many facets of the salt marsh and its secrets is to be led by a nature guide. Guided tours are a wonderful opportunity to understand the organization and functioning of a salt marsh, and to observe the ancestral gestures of the salt worker. The tour concludes with a small tasting of the famous salt from the island of Oléron. The greatest chefs use it to gently enhance dishes and add a touch of crunch to the taste buds.
In summer, you have "Rendez-vous avec le saunier," a fun activity that will put you to the test! You practice salt harvesting yourself using traditional tools like the simouche (for coarse salt) and the servion (for fleur de sel). It's your turn!
For the youngest, fun activities are offered during the school holidays: creative workshops, treasure hunts, treasure hunts, discovery of the fauna of the salt marsh... This is how children keep their time intelligently occupied. camping holidays in Oléron while having fun!
If you prefer to visit the marsh on your own, an interpretive trail, with free access, will allow you to understand the riches and salt-producing history of the Port des Salines.
The ecomuseum
The ecomuseum invites you to wander from hut to hut to learn about the functioning of the salt marshes, their history through the ages, the different stages of harvesting the white gold and its uses. More unusual, the ecomuseum also offers a dive into the world of nocturnal creatures that haunt the marsh: werewolves, horned monsters and other imaginary hybrid creatures of the salt marshes...
The boat trip
To combine business with pleasure, treat yourself to a family boat ride. In an hour, you'll tour the marsh to observe the flora and fauna that have made it their home. It's so fun that even grumpy teenagers will join in the fun!
A bit of history…
Salt farming, a thriving economic activity on the island of Oléron for centuries, fell into disuse at the end of the 20th century. It wasn't until 1989 that this formerly abandoned marshland was given a new lease of life. The small port and ecomuseum were inaugurated in 1994, and the site then became one of the major nature centers in Charente-Maritime.
INFO
Address: Rue des Anciennes Salines, 17370 Le Grand-Village-Plage
Website: www.port-des-salines.fr
Photo: © Anthony MASSET