Sights and landmarks in La Tremblade

Sights and landmarks in La Tremblade

1. See

   Coubre forest

   Forêt de la Coubre

   One of the largest forests in Poitou-Charentes, it covers an area of 8000 hectares and extends to four municipalities. This pine forest was planted in the 19th century to stop the movement of the sand dunes, and has a characteristic similar to the nearby Landes de Gascogne forest, though many other tree species grow here. Wildlife includes deer, wild boars, birds and insects. There are around 25 km of biking paths, and 50 km of riding and hiking paths in the forest (also the long distance hiking trail GR4 goes through here). Near Galon d'Or there's a small lagoon.

2. See

   Coubre lighthouse

   Phare de la Coubre

   The red and white lighthouse near the Pointe de la Coubre sits on moving sandbanks watching over the incoming waves of the ocean. Built in 1904, it's not the first lighthouse here, but earlier construction have fallen victim to erosion. When the lighthouse was finished it was almost 2 km from the coastline, now it is just 150 m away. You can walk 300 steps up to the viewing platform to views of tens of kilometres including the Coubre Forest, the Gironde estuary, Île d'Oléron and the Côte Sauvage. Next to the lighthouse is a museum about the lighthouses that have functioned here and their equipment (admission is included in the ticket to the lighthouse). On Facebook.

3. See

   Côte sauvage beaches

   Plages de la Côte sauvage

   Making up the western flank of the municipality, the "wild coast" is a stretch of about 20 km of white sand beaches, facing the ocean directly. Five sections have been developed for swimming, but given the currents and waves, swimmers need to be careful, especially with children. The beaches popular with surfers, though. Plage de la pointe Espagnole is the northernmost, is surveilled by lifeguards during the summer months and has a snack bar and a dedicated parking lot. South of it is the naturist beach with the same name. Then comes Plage de la Bouverie which likewise has lifeguards, a snack bar and a parking lot and Plage du Vieux-Phare which has no services. The southernmost, partially in the municipality of Mathes, is Plage du phare de la Coubre near the lighthouse with parking and lifeguards - this is the beach with the strongest currents.

4. See

   Grève harbour

   Port de La Grève

   The most important oyster port in France, along a 2.5 km long canal connecting central La Tremblade (Place Faure-Marchand) with the Seudre estuary. It is bordered by lively painted huts that are illuminated at night during the season, and at that time festivities with fireworks take place. Traditional fishing boats sail the canal. At the end of the canal there's a viewpoint with views to Marennes and Île d'Oléron, as well as restaurants and souvenir shops.

5. See

   Pertuis de Maumusson beaches

   Plages du Pertuis de Maumusson

   In the northwest of the municipality there are four beaches with view to the southern end of Île d'Oléron. The sand banks protect swimmers from currents, and the water tends to somewhat warmer here as it moves around less. Starting from the north, Mus-du-Loup beach is near the Seudre bridge and the mouth of the river. This beach is more for sunbathing than swimming because the water is often muddy. Cèpe beach is just west of Ronce-les-Bains, and is accessed by an avenue. It has a beach club and picnic tables. Further west are the less busier beaches of Galon d'Or and L'Embellie.

6. See

   Protestant church

   Temple protestant

   The church was dedicated on 24 August 1823, the anniversary of the Saint Barthélémy massacre. A testimony to the Protestant heritage of the peninsula, the design was inspired by neoclassicism, and has doric columns framing the front door and two oculi on the façade.

7. See

   Sacred heart church

   Église du Sacré-Cœur

   Neo-Gothic church from the 1880s, built as the earlier church became too small for the growing number of worshippers. The bell tower was damaged in a storm in 1999 and partially rebuilt. It has beautiful stained windows from the early 20th century, a crafted altar and a modern work of art named Polyptyque de la croix by artist Michel Genty.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to La Tremblade (CC BY-SA 4.0).