Last but by no means least, Les Portes is the furthest
village from the bridge to the mainland and has a reputation as an exclusive
retreat for celebrities and rich Parisians – Charles Aznavour sings a famous
song about the forest
of Trousse Chemise which
hides the beach of the same name in the north western corner of the island.
Now one of the most exclusive villages, Les
Portes was once one of the poorest, home to many salt farmers.
A quiet haven, it has remained, like all the
villages on the island, a lovely place to wander through narrow streets and
alley ways admiring the local architecture and the variety of flowers at the
roadside. You might come across the Redoute chapel which was once and powder
magazine on your way to the village square with its famous cafés and summer
market.
If Les Portes has always been a source of
inspiration for artists, it’s because everything is perfect and perfectly
unchanged: from the beauty of the ocean and the long, wild beaches, to the
purity of the wide open spaces, from the authentic whitewashed cottages to the
pine filled forests.
The nautical centre, the surfing spots, the
9-hole golf course opposite the nature reserve, will ensure you enjoy your
holidays in a sporting atmosphere surrounded by nature in the form of the salt
marshes, bird sanctuary, and endless beaches: Trousse Chemise, le Lizay,
Petit-Bec, le banc du Bûcheron – you’ll come to realize that these names are
synonymous with white sands and clear waters. |
