Ré, the island by bike

With a smile on your face, it’s with a heart full of joy that you get on your two-wheeler, humming Yves Montant’s “à Bicyclette” as you set off on the trails of the Ile de Ré.

A variety of fascinating landscapes await you, from wild moorlands to the shimmering expanses of salt marshes, pine woods leading to beaches and charming villages. With a length of 30 km and a mainly flat landscape, the island is a real paradise for amateur cyclists, with 138 km of cycle paths.

Nature and culture by bike

You can cycle the whole island, or organize your outings by theme to make them more fun.
The nature trails suggested by the tourist office, such as “Le chemin de la forêt” or “Le chemin des marais salants”, plunge you into the island’s unique landscapes.
A tour of the salt marshes covers some 20 kilometers and lasts 2 to 3 hours. As you walk along these characteristic areas of the island, you’ll have the chance to meet the salt-marsh farmers.
But that’s not all, as you’ll also have the chance to appreciate, at your own pace, the heritage sites that litter the walks! From La Flotte, head for the Abbaye des Châteliers. From there, leave your saddle and continue on foot along part of the route to Fort la Prée.
Tours to the north take you to the Lilleau des Niges nature reserve, a major part of the island’s natural heritage, where birdwatching is as fascinating as it is captivating.

Pedal-powered gourmet pleasures!

Treat yourself to a delicious gourmet meal, stop off at the market, discover the oyster huts or sit on the terrace of a harbor café… There’s no shortage of opportunities to appreciate the tasty character of Ré.

Discovering local produce and know-how is another great way to enjoy the region by bike.

That’s why the tourist office has set up three gourmet tours starting from Sainte-Marie: a village between sea and vineyards, La Couarde: an authentic village with charming alleyways and Ars-en-Ré: a crossroads of fascinating salt marshes. You’ll be able to sample local specialities on the spot: honey, salt marsh plants such as succulents, local wine, aromatic herbs, Ré cookies, local beers, etc.

Thanks to an extensive network of cycle paths, cycling is an integral part of the island’s identity. The island’s inhabitants use them on a daily basis for their activities, to go shopping or to the market.As well as adding to the richness of the time spent on the island, two-wheeled vehicles allow you to explore the area responsibly and take your time to enjoy the natural surroundings. The benefits of cycling are excellent for physical fitness and well-being.

Cycling for a responsible vacation

Managing routes to encourage walking and cycling is one of the priorities of the island’s sustainable development strategy. Soft mobility offers a more environmentally-friendly approach to tourism, allowing visitors to explore the island at a slower pace.

Recommended as the main means of transport during the tourist season, cycling reduces the island’s carbon footprint when the island welcomes large numbers of visitors and roads can become congested. Cycling then becomes a practical alternative for avoiding traffic jams and even the stress of searching for parking spaces.

Numerous bike rentals, maintenance of cycle paths and the organization of bike-related events make cycling easy.