Rental Saint-Clément - ile de re

This village, located between Ars and Les Portes, and one of the least populated on the island, is sometimes forgotten despite being home to one of the most visited tourist spots on the Ile de Ré: the Phare des Baleines, and to one of the best beaches: La Conche des Baleines which stretches all the way from the lighthouse to Les Portes, fringed by a high dune and pine forests which help protect the land behind from the vigorous assaults made by the ocean.

Visiting the lighthouse is a must. It stands 57m high and once you’ve climbed its 257 steps you’ll have an unprecedented view over the ocean, the island and the old lighthouse built by Colbert in 1662.

Saint-Clément is also a refuge for those seeking a holiday let or a holiday home on the Ile de Ré in a place upon which tourism has not yet left too many marks, where you can commune with nature and escape the crowds.

It’s also a great place if you want to leave your car in the garage and do everything on bike, like cycling to Ars to enjoy its market, or stopping off a the beach of La Conche before continuing on to Les Portes for sea food and wine at one of the trendy restaurants.

You shouldn’t miss the fish locks that reveal themselves at low tide and which served over the centuries as traps for fish as the tide went out. In many ways, Saint-Clément resembles Sainte-Marie, not least for these fish locks which form an integral part of the Ile de Ré’s heritage.