As every year, the European Heritage Days will meet you on the third weekend of September on the island of Oléron. Take advantage of it to (re)discover the richness and diversity of our island heritage, most often for free.
Unique visit to the port of La Cotinière
In Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron, discover the behind the scenes of the famous port of La Cotinière, the first fishing port of Charente-Maritime. On the program: guided tour of the belvedere for an explanation of the work to extend the port and the basins, visit of the SNSM boat and visit of the new fish market Cotiniere. A popular ball will be held on the port from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- Saturday from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., rue du port, 17310 Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron, free entertainment.
The Ecomuseum of the Port of Salines
In the heart of a picturesque hamlet of huts on stilts, discover how a salt marsh works and observe the ancestral gestures of the salt worker. Each exhibition hut is dedicated to a theme related to salt and marshes: history and functioning of salt marshes, fauna and flora, uses of salt, etc.
- Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Port of Salines : Rue des Anciennes Salines, 17370 Le Grand-Village-Plage, free self-guided tour.
Flash visits to the Oléron Island Museum
As part of the European Heritage Days, the Oléron Island Museum offers flash tours. In about 30 minutes, discover a particular theme of Oléron heritage: history of the island, ethnography, fine arts, traditional activities (oyster farming, viticulture, salt production) or even the birth of seaside tourism in Oleron…
- Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Oléron Island Museum: 9 place Gambetta, 17310 Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron, free entry.
Storming Fort Louvois by sea
At the foot of the bridge of Oleron Island, Marennes side, Fort Louvois is the last bastion built on the Charente coast by the Sun King. Built on the rock of Chapus, This jewel of military architecture was built between 1691 and 1694 according to the plans of Vauban. Come and explore the mini fortress from top to bottom, pace up and down the ramparts and climb to the top of the keep to admire a breathtaking view of Oleron Island and the surrounding area.
- Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Port du Chapus, 17560 Bourcefranc-le-Chapus, access on foot from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. – Access by boat from 3 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Sunday: access by boat only, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
On board the “Lola of Skagen”, an old-fashioned sailing ship
HAS Saint-Denis-d'Oleron, Come aboard the “Lola of Skagen”, a century-old ocean-going sailing ship. Discover its history, from its construction in 1919 in Denmark to its restoration in the Bois Marin shipyard on Oleron Island. Guided, commented and animated tours (astronomical navigation, photo exhibition, screening of the film “Hajkutter”…).
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m., meet at the marina, pontoon A, 17650 Saint-Denis-d'Oléron, free entertainment, reservation required, tel. 05 46 75 74 08.
Photo credit: Stéphanie NADOUCE / CT