Just before arriving on Oleron Island, make a stopover at the Cité de l'Huître to discover the behind the scenes and the little secrets of the pearl of oysters: the oyster Marennes-Oleron ! You will know everything (or almost) about gourmets' favorite seafood.
The Marennes-Oléron oyster comes out of its shell, just for you!
Located in Marennes, 20 minutes from our campsite Oleron, there Oyster City is one of the must-see places to visit during your vacation in Charente-Maritime. With nearly 6,000 hectares of oyster beds, including 3,000 hectares of oyster beds spread along the La channel Cayenne, Marennes-Oléron is the leading oyster farming area in Europe and one of the most monitored ecosystems in the world. Discover!
Between marshes and cabins, discovering the famous Marennes-Oléron oyster
In the company of a passionate guide, the Oyster City of Marennes invites you to discover the different facets of this bivalve so appreciated by gourmets, the profession of oyster farmers, heirs of a know-how that has been passed down for four generations and all the little ones secrets of the oyster from the Marennes-Oléron basin.
The hut trail allows the curious to discover the oyster farming world, the cycle of oyster farming, from its birth to the plate, its history, its culture through the ages, recipes to cook them as desired, but also the fauna and flora of the marsh.
Fun activities and workshops
To spice up the visit and capture the children's attention, the Oyster City of Marennes offers a whole range of activities and fun workshops for the whole family. On the program: oyster opening (without getting hurt), fish feeding, fishing with a square net and crabs, making nautical knots, quizzes, treasure hunts, oyster painting, etc.
An incredible find at the Cité de l'Huître: a pearl discovered in an oyster!
Last summer, during the “Oyster Opening” event, a A visitor to the Oyster City discovered a pearl in his shellThe lucky woman was able to leave with her pearl. A rare find, because out of 20,000 shells opened each year, only one oyster contains this little pearly treasure!
The interpretive trail
After visiting the cabins, it's time to explore the area! The Chemin des Claires offers a lovely walk or bike ride along the La channel. Cayenne (4 km marked trail). Bicycles are available to explore the small winding roads near the marshes, in the heart of the Claires ecosystem.
Also read: Visit Fort-Royer, an authentic oyster farming village on the island of Oléron
Tasting at the restaurant of the Oyster City
Put some iodine on your plate! The experience wouldn't be complete without it. taste these famous Marennes Oléron oysters, hot or cold, accompanied by a small glass of Charente white wine. Head to the restaurant La Claire! From the terrace on stilts, above the water, you can also enjoy a lovely view of the marsh and the clearings.
The secret of Marennes-Oléron oysters?
In Charente-Maritime, the oysters of the basin Marennes-Oleron are the only French oysters to benefit from a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). Their secret? They are refined and raised in claire, a specific technique that gives them a pronounced local flavor that lingers in the mouth, a high flesh content, and a crisp firmness.
The claires are former salt marshes converted into small, shallow clay basins that fill with rising tides and retain seawater when the ocean recedes. These basins are very rich in phytoplankton, an essential food source for the growth of a plump oyster.
The oyster farmers of Marennes Oleron work with four types of oysters: fine de claire, special claire, fine de claire verte and pousse en claire – the latter two being the only French oysters to benefit from a Label Rouge. When we tell you that it's the pearl of oysters!
Practical information
- Address: Cité de l'Huître, Chenal de La Cayenne, rue des martyrs, 17320 Marennes (only 15 km from our camping on the island of Oléron )
- Access: take the direction of Oleron Island until Marennes, then follow the road signs.
- In summer, park at the entrance to the channel, hop on a bike at the summer ticket office or take the little train to the Oyster City.
- Open from April 1st until the end of the All Saints' Day holidays, from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Adult rate: €9, child rate (6 to 16 years): €5, free for children under 6
- Bring suitable shoes (preferably closed), a cap and sunglasses.
- More information on the site of the Marennes Oyster City, Tel. 05 46 36 78 98.