Property Houses
Sleeps 4
Single/Double / 1
Bathrooms 1
Pets Not Allowed
Pool No
Saint-Martin-de-Ré Holiday Home in Charente-Maritime - Fisherman's cottage. 9, Petite Rue Merindot, Saint-Martin-de-Ré
The Ile de-Ré, an island soaked in sunshine and history, lies just off the Atlantic coast of La Rochelle in Charente-Maritime - a region elessed with a meditterranean type climate and wide sandy beaches.
The island's colourful past pre-dates the middle ages and it's capital St Martin still looks much as it must have done in the 17th Century with its mediaeval church, old fortifications (a relic of repeated warring against the english) and narrow cobbled streets winding down to the port.
St Martin is the island's 'capital' - the largest of about ten pretty villages and the port still harbours a small fishing fleet who offer a selection of the day's catch for sale every evening at around 5pm. It's at about that time that the bridge into the harbour is raised to allow the flotilla of yachts and little pleasure boats to sail in from the Atlantic to berth for the night.
And it's in the evening that the port really comes alive. Restaurants offering delicious seafood dishes spill out onto the pavement. Try some of the amazing variety of home made ice cream, wander round the craft market which in high season sets up its stalls right on the waters edge, or sit with a cognac and coffee listening to a jazz group or the occasional itinerant musician.
And next morning - usually lateish, there are bikes to hire, (the island has cycle ways right round it), donkeys to ride and endless white beaches to explore....and if you're into it, bird sanctuaries, wild marshlands and woods to picnic in.
Our house was originally a fisherman's cottage. It's tucked away in one of the flower-filled 'venelles' that thread through St Martin.
The sitting room has beams and an open fire (not useable in summer) and leads into the kitchen which is fully equipped with washing machine, dish washer, fridge, microwave (combined with oven) and separate electric and gas hob. French windows open onto a sunny patio and scheduled walled garden.
Upstairs, our bedroom has a double bed from which you can look out over terracotta rooftops towards the tower of the mediaeval church. The other bedroom has 2 single beds which can be made into a double, and there is a bathroom with bath and shower.
The cottage, although set apart from the hustle and bustle of St Martin is less than five mutes from the port and about ten from the nearest beach....ideal for a family holiday and much closer than the south of France.
Kitchenware Appliances
Fixtures & Equipment
External Features
Local Attractions
Saint-Martin-de-Ré is a port town on the Île de Ré, an island off the west coast of France. It’s ringed by star-shaped, 17th-century ramparts, with a huge, preserved citadel on the eastern side. Cafes and restaurants with outdoor terraces surround the busy harbor. Le Clocher Observatoire clock tower offers views over the town. The Musée Ernest Cognacq has artifacts, ceramics and paintings, plus a sculpture garden.
There is a market at chic St-Martin de Ré, beside the port from where the famous Papillon set sail, the market in Les Halles spills onto the streets with a hall that’s bursting with every kind of seafood imaginable under the sun.
Special Rental Conditions
The final amount is due six weeks before your arrival date.
Linen charge: Please enquire.
Availability Calendar
Property Exterior
Local Attractions
There is a market at chic St-Martin de Ré, beside the port from where the famous Papillon set sail, the market in Les Halles spills onto the streets with a hall that’s bursting with every kind of seafood imaginable under the sun.
In the area
This Property is situated in Charente-Maritime, Poitou-Charentes
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Please note that the location on this map is an approximate guide, normally to the closest town or village.