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Ile de Ré Property Listings and Info

For buying and selling property in Ile de Ré

A truly golden isle

The beautiful island of Île de Ré can be found off the west coast of France, in the region of Poitou-Charentes and the department of Charente-Maritime. The island is blessed with long, flat and sandy beaches, and cool, shallow waters, ideal for safe swimming and sunbathing. Popular with families, with teenagers and with everyone who enjoys the traditional pleasures of the seaside, the island also enjoys a mild and sunny climate, with almost as many hours of summer sunshine as the south, but with a less savage heat.

Full of character and beautiful despite the number of visitors

And although the winter population is just 16,000, be warned that in summer this multiplies tenfold to a staggering 160,000. Despite its tourism, the island retains its character and beauty through building regulations, which decree that houses must conform to the standard colour scheme of whitewashed walls with green shutters, and must be no more than two storeys high. Thus the Île de Ré avoids the ugly high-rise fate of so many seaside resorts.

Oysters and mussels, alive, alive oh!

The freshest and best of seafood is available on the Île de Ré, which is particularly noted for its home produced oysters and mussels. If you are a seafood fan this is reason enough to own a house on the island! There are many good restaurants and shops here, but as you would expect, the prices can become on the high side in the summer season.

An artists dream

For many years the Île de Ré has attracted artists not only because of its beauty, but also because of the unusual clarity of the light. There are several galleries to visit, or why not allow the island to inspire you and try your hand at painting yourself?

Cycling is a big attraction

Cycling is a popular activity on the island, with 60 miles of cycle paths taking you away from busy roads and keeping you safe. There are cycle hire shops on the island too, so bringing your own bike isn't a necessity. Many are family friendly and offer children's bikes or bikes with trailers for children attached.

How to get there

Getting to the island is easier than you might imagine. You can fly to the nearby town of La Rochelle on the mainland, which is served by budget airline Ryanair and Flybe. Then you could hire a car and drive over the toll bridge to reach Île de Ré itself, or use the bus service or take a taxi. (There are boats which go to the island from the mainland, but these boats are used for pleasure trips only.)

Property prices and availability on the Ile de Re

Property on the island tends to be at a premium, with approximately 600 properties currently being sold a year. If you are lucky enough to be able to buy a house here, however, you can be assured that you have the potential of a good rental income, should you wish to let the property out for part of the season. Good property on this island is not easy to find, but will always be a good investment as islands as lovely as the Île de Ré are few and far between. (It might be worth mentioning that if your budget is tight, it may be advisable to look inland, but within easy reach of the Île de Ré, or even at less popular areas of the island. Bear in mind though, this might affect rental income.)

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Ile de Ré AT A GLANCE

WHERE IS Ile de Ré?

The island is found off the central western coast of France, in the region of Poitou Charentes. It is close to La Rochelle, and is connected to it by a 3km long toll bridge. The only other access to the island is by boat.

Ile de Ré Property Map

IN THE REGION OF POITOU-CHARENTES

Poitou-Charentes Guide

Poitou-Charentes Property Map

IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CHARENTE-MARITIME

Charente-Maritime Guide

  Charente-Maritime Map


Population: 16,000


Access: From the UK you can fly to La Rochelle with Ryanair or with Flybe.


Economy: The economy of the island is based on the production of seafood, mainly shellfish such as mussels and oysters, and on tourism.


Interesting fact: The island is famous for being the departure point for convicts being shipped to the penal colonies. The notorious Henri Charrière, better known as Papillon, was one of these!


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