La Couarde-sur-Mer

Atypical seaside resort in the heart of unspoilt nature

Located right in the heart of the island, La Couarde-sur-Mer is the ideal starting point for your bicycle tours. Boasting a unique labyrinth of flower-filled alleyways, the village invites you to let go as you wander down a colorful, fragrant lane.

A charming village ideally located in the center of the Ile de Ré

Come and discover La Couarde-sur-Mer with its 1,100 inhabitants. Here you’ll find all the charm and authenticity of Ré la blanche! With its labyrinth of flower-lined alleyways, this village will delight you with its privileged location in the heart of the Ile de Ré, the ideal starting point for all your cycling tours. While you’re here, don’t forget to make a detour to the bandstand at the foot of the church, where you can enjoy a number of concerts throughout the summer.

To the south, behind the dunes, stretches an immense expanse of fine sand. From Plage des Prises to Plage des Petites Folies, it’s one and the same shoreline, stretching over 5 km, where you can enjoy all kinds of seaside and water sports: sailing, kite surfing, jet skiing, water skiing, stand-up paddling, fishing or just lazing around… As for Plage de La Pergola, it’s a surfing spot referenced by surfers the world over! A pathway along the dune allows you to walk along the beach with a breathtaking view of the Pertuis d’Antioche.

The village of La Couarde’s geographical location makes it an ideal place to rest and prepare for a cycling expedition to the north of the island, with its salt marshes, or to the vineyards and forests to the south. Heading north again, you’ll discover the Goisil channel, a picturesque and bucolic little port that inspires many painters and photographers, before heading along the coast to the well-known village of Saint-Martin-de-Ré.

Did you know?

La Couarde doesn’t take its name from any act of cowardice. It actually comes from the word “Coe” meaning “tail”, as it was the tip of the original Ile de Ré!

From popular seaside resort to richly varied heritage

Thanks to its extensive beaches, the “gold of bathers” helped make La Couarde the first renowned seaside resort on the Ile de Ré at the very beginning of the ^20th century. Among the famous “bathers” was Mistinguett, who rented the chalet Macabiou for several years running.

All around the village, the many remains of mills and old mansions (Les Marattes, Les Prises, La Davière…) bear witness to a rich historical past and a flourishing economic activity based on the exploitation of salt marshes and vineyards. Today, while viticulture remains the main activity, oyster farming has also developed considerably on the wide foreshores of Fosse-de-Loix and Anse du Martray. So don’t hesitate to stop off and sample some of the local produce.

As for the village center, it will delight heritage enthusiasts with its discreet nuggets that are well worth a look! Like the famous bandstand, the last remaining one on the island, with its colorful brickwork. The church at La Couarde is also well worth a visit, with its starry ceiling, its ex-voto offerings and, above all, its unique inscription, which only two churches in the département have above their entrance! And don’t hesitate to take a stroll down to Square Roger Bonin to admire its striking war memorial.