Charente-Maritime Press File 2014 - france-atlantic.com · Charente-Maritime Press File 2014 Facts & figures ... A Violin on the Sand - Royan ... from swing to ‘manouche’ to blues

Charente-Maritime Press File 2014

Facts & figures

Area: 6,864 square kilometres 460 km of coastline 4 islands 42 pleasure ports 10 wellness centres 42,201 hectares of Green Venice (Marais Poitevin) 14 ‘Pôles-Nature’ natural areas

Population: 630,000 inhabitants

Main cities: La Rochelle (77,376 pop.) Saintes (27,795 pop.) Rochefort (26,125 pop.) Royan (18,992 pop.)

Main sector of activity: Tourism: accounts for 74% of tourism to the region; employs 9% of the population; accounts for over 1.6million euros; involves 3,500 businesses; has 663,000 beds which have 33.4 million bed nights.

Other economic areas of importance: Industry: nautical, aeronautical and farming Business Teaching

Tourists: 86% of tourists are French Internationally the British are the largest group, then Dutch, Belgian, German and Spanish. Most are in families or couples (75% of the total).

Average stay: is 7.3 nights

Where they stay: 60% in private accommodation (17% are in secondary homes of which there are over 88,660 in the department); 18% camping; 14% in chambres d’hotes and self-catering; 5% in hostels and similar; 3% in hotels

Visit our website for more information: www.france-atlantic.com

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Charente-Maritime Press File 2014

Main attractions: First department of France for wellness with six thalassotherapy centres and three thermal resorts.

First department of France for disabled facilities – 325 different places are branded with the ‘Tourism & Handicap’ label.

There are five UNESCO Heritage Sites: La Citadelle de Saint-Martin de Ré; Church of Saint-Pierre d’Aulnay Royal Abbey of Saint-Jean-d’Angély; the Pilgrimage Hospital at Pons and the church of Saine-Eutrope de Saintes (on the Saint-Jacques de Compostella Route).

The Aquarium of La Rochelle and the Zoo of La Palmyre are two of the top ten provincial tourist attractions in France.

The Francofolies is the third most important music festival in France. It celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2014.

Le Grand Pavois – the most important nautical show in France that has been going for 42 years, attracting over 92,000 people every year and generating over 25million Euros over six days. There are 850 exhibitors and 700 boats over 100,000 square metres of exhibition space.

Access from the UK: By air to La Rochelle from London, Southampton, Birmingham, Manchester, East Midlands, Bristol, Leeds/Bradford and Edinburgh.

By rail from London via Paris to La Rochelle. (3 hours from Paris to La Rochelle by TGV).

By road – three hours from St.Malo.

PRESS CONTACT :Gillian GREEN - Magellan PR - Tel: +44 (0) 7515 283 287 - [email protected]

Stéphane Morand - Tel: + 33 (0)5 46 31 71 77 - [email protected] our website for more information: www.france-atlantic.com

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Events in Charente-Maritime 2014

April - May - June Kite Flying Festival - Chatelaillon– 19th – 20th April

An annual event held at Chatelaillon-Plage with more than 250 competitors and 40,000 spectators

Festival Passe Portes - Ile de Ré – 27th May – 1stJune www.festivalpasseportes.comA festival of open-air theatre free to all and taking place when the island is heading towards the summer months

Stand up Paddle Challenge 30th May – 1st Junewww.diabolo.comThis takes place on the Ile d’Oléron.

Maraisthon - Marais Poitevin -14th – 15th Junewww.maraisthon.fr The fifth anniversary of the race this year.

Festivals Nuits Romanes – all over the department - 30th June – 1st September 2014http://www.en-charente-maritime.com/nuits-romanesAll sorts of entertainment that takes place all over the destination in the summer. This year is the tenth anniversary of the Festival.

International Film Festival – La Rochelle 27th June – 7th July 2014www.festival-larochelle.orgThe 41st festival is held in La Rochelle. In 2012, 82,429 spectators watched 389 performances of 142 long films and 61 shorts.

July- August - September

The Francofolies - La Rochelle -10th – 14th July 2014www.francofolies.frIt is the Thirtieth Anniversary of the festival this year.

Festival de Saintes – Saintes - 11th – 19th July 2014www.abbayeauxdames.orgThis will take place in July 2013 in the Abbaye aux Dames in the centre of Saintes. The concerts are all classical with music from the present day back to the Renaissance.

A Violin on the Sand - Royan - 19th – 26th July 2014www.violonsurlesable.com

Festival Musique en Ré – Ile de Ré - 20th – 30th July 2014www.musique-en-re.comThe only festival in France dedicated to amateur composers gathered together so the public may appreciate the talent and the diversity of French song.


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Events in Charente-Maritime 2014

Festival international de Guitare – Ile de Ré – 11th July 2014This festival takes place all over the island with a number of recitals given by guitarists from all over the world.

Jazz en Ré – Ile de Ré – 22nd -25th August 2014bit.ly/JazzEnReThe Sixteenth Jazz en Ré Festival will take place this August in Saint Martin de Ré. Taking place at the port of St Martin de Ré under the Vauban fortifications, this enjoyable jazz festival has something for everyone, from swing to ‘manouche’ to blues.

Festival BD Ile de Ré – Ile de Ré – 7th August 2014www.festival-bd.comThis festival welcomes artists and designers from the cartoon world for the most colourful two days of summer!

Le Grand Pavois - La Rochelle – 17th – 22th September 2014 www.grand-pavois.comOne of the most important boat shows in the world with more than 750 boats, 89,000 visitors in 2012 and covering an area of 100,000 square metres.

October - November - December Jazz between Two Towers - La Rochelle

4th – 11th October 2014www.larochelle-jazz-festival.comThis is one of the best known jazz festivals in France attracting stars such as John Scofield, Joe Louis Walker and Michelle Hendricks. The beautiful setting between the towers of the old port of La Rochelle is exceptional.

La Rochelle Marathon - La Rochelle - 30th November 2014 www.marathondelarochelle.comThe 23rd race will take place towards the end of the month and is the second fastest marathon after that of Paris. Usually about 9,000 participants take part in the marathon or the 10 kilometre race.



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Story-angles Charente-Maritime 2014

Did you know - Saintes?Saintes is renowned for its Romanesque architecture – the Germanicus Arch, the thermal baths, the underground aqueduct, and one of the best preserved amphitheatres in France. To this day architecture is important to the town as it has the most respected university departments of architecture outside of Paris. www.saintes-tourisme.org

Did you know - La Rochelle?Welcoming over 4,000 clients a day in high season, the ice cream parlour of the Babin Brothers has become an institution in La Rochelle. Just a couple of steps away from the Old Port, the ice cream really recognise some of the specialities of the region – so there is sea salt, melon and strawberry and pineau flavour! They are famous for their batonnets or little sticks of ice cream either of coconut and white chocolate or mango and dark chocolate!

Georges Simenon, creator of the formidable Inspector Maigret lived in La Rochelle between 1927 and 1936. He eventually moved north due to German activity in the area at the start of the Second World War but he always remembered in La Rochelle as it is the town he loved the most in his life.

La Rochelle pioneered the introduction of the self-service urban bike back in 1974 so Boris John son has the Yélo system to thank for coming up with the idea! There are now 350 bikes available in the town and 150 kilometres of cycle paths.

La Rochelle AquariumNew for 2014 are:• New film - ‘The Sharks…in Questions’ highlights the many features of this endangered species and shows how aquariums can help with their conservation.• New art show – 30 pieces by Jean Michel Benier – the artist who has been creating posters for the Aquarium for the last 40 years.• New app – a free app with a quiz, images, a game, news, an audioguide, pictures and more!

Three Towers:The three famous towers of La Rochelle (de la Chaine, Saint-Nicholas and Lanterne) are the remains of what were the mediaeval maritime fortifications. The Lantern Tower is the oldest lighthouse on the Atlantic Coast of France. www.la-rochelle.monumnets-nationaux.fr

Did you know - Royan? Architecture – villas line the shore dating from the Belle-Epoque, rubbing

shoulders with classic 1950’s buildings, all geometry and colour, which typified the post war reconstruction period of the 1950’s. André Malraux, erstwhile Minister of Culture called the Church of Notre Dame here a ‘Concrete Cathedral’.


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Five beaches, all of top quality and graded in the premier category of cleanliness and maintenance, line this part of the Atlantic littoral known as the Beautiful Coast. The most famous is ‘La Conche’ (The Shell) is typified with blue and white striped beach tents lining the shore. The pleasure port id one of the most important on the Atlantic Coast and a promenade to view the boutiques and art galleries is simply a MUST.

‘Un Violin sur la Sable’ is unmissable for classic music fans. Taking place between 19th – 26th July this year, the festival attracts stars such as Nathalie Dessay and Renaud Capucon.

Walk in the footsteps of the famous… Emile Zola discovered Royan back in 1886 and Sarah Bernhardt was a frequent visitor to the Casino. Picasso lived here for a year with two of his muses, Marie-Thérèse Wlater and Dora Maar. There is an exhibition ‘Royan – Picasso’ taking place here this year until 2nd November at the local museum.

Family Plus – is a label awarded to places in France that go that one step further to make the holidays even more unforgettable for all the family. They have produced a special brochure listing all the various clubs for kids of all ages, different activities and sports that can be found in Royan in the summer months. www.royan-tourisme.comNB : Royan is a ‘Ville d’Art et d’Histoire’ as is Rochefort, Saintes and the Ile de Ré.

Four exceptional islands lie off the coast of Charente-Maritime If these islands have points in common – a rich, preserved countryside and a favourable climate – each one is very different from the others. www

Ré ‘the White’ evokes above all the villages of white houses with green shutters that abound with small alleys, a paradise of hollyhocks. There are also cycle paths over all the island, taking in the marshes, beaches, forests and traditional harbours.http://www.holidays-iledere.co.uk/

Aix ‘the authentic’ is the last island of the destination that is accessible only by boat. Here, there are no cars and peace and tranquillity are guaranteed. On foot or by bike, everyone can go right round this little crescent of earth at their own speed, where an exceptional heritage blends with untamed countryside.http://www.holidays-fortboyard.co.uk/

Oléron ‘the luminous’, is a first-class mixture of wildlife, heritage and regional produce. What with its long beaches – magnificent places for watersports and board sports – a large number of forests of oak and pine, its marshes and birds, the citadel of the Château d’Oléron, Fort Boyard, and the oysters of Marennes-Oléron, the good life has definitely set up home here. http://www.oleron-island.com/


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Madame ‘the youngest’, less well-known than the other islands of the destination, the Ile Madame is a unique place. Accessible at low tide, via the ‘cow pass’, discover this minuscule piece of land, practically untouched, located between the estuary of La Charente and the sea. There are a large number of carrelets – wooden huts on stilts for fishing at high tide – on the West coast of the Isle. http://www.holidays-fortboyard.co.uk/

Spa Secrets Jonzac is unusual being built on an area of thermal troglodyte caves.

New for 2014 are some treatments for the lumbar and cervical areas. The water here has a very high mineral content as it has spent more than 30,000 years underground! www.chainethermale.fr/jonzac.html Jonzac has one of the largest indoor aquatic parks in Europe spanning

over 10.000 square metres. The water is at a constant 29 degrees so one feels more like in the Caribbean than the Atlantic.www.lesantillesdejonzac.com Saujon has added some new things for 2014 with new hydro massage

features in the pool, new treatment rooms and a ‘cure’ especially designed for those with high levels of stress. There is a new solarium, hammam and ice cold fountain as well as new sensory shower and relaxing showers. www.thermes.net Rochefort is now the sixth most important town in France for thermal

treatments, especially for rheumatism. They welcomed more than 16,000 guests in 2013, 70% are likely to return this year to repeat the successful ‘cures’. www.thermes-rochefort.com

Thalassotherapy Le Richelieu - La Flotte-en-Ré

The brown seaweed of the Ile de Ré is known as the face’s best friend as it is used in treatments at the thalassotherapy centre here in La Flotte to help stimulate the skin to breathe and renew. Therapy leaves the skin feeling clear and luminous with a well-nourished epidermis and a great feeling of regeneration. Le Richelieu specialises in facial treatments generally and in wrinkle therapy (around the eyes) more specifically. All treatments are for men and women alike. Relais Thalasso - Sainte-Marie-de-Ré

…is a themed thalassotherapy centre that is as renowned for its ‘Thalavie’ programme as for the regular thalassotherapy treatments. The idea is to draw a balance between well-being and getting in shape. One may try any of the themed courses such as wine-tasting, walking and hiking, photography or art, at the same time as experiencing new wellness treatments for the body. Thalacap - Ars-en-Ré

Those with very little time to spare can experience something as little as a half-day package at the Thalacap, the ‘Atlantic’, which includes exfoliation with Atlantic sea salts and then sculpting under a pine oil shower or in a bubble bath where one is immersed in pine essence. For those who prefer the aromas of the Mediterranean, one may choose Mediterranean sea-salt and essence of citrus fruit to choose from.


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Thalasso La Rochelle Sud - Chatelaillon-PlageThis centre specialises in skin care of face and body alike – anti-ageing in fact. Hydro-baths, hydro-jets, face masks, sculpting, exfoliation…all the treatments aim to make the guests look and feel younger. There are three different programmes on offer- ‘Parenthèse’, ‘Echapée’ and ‘Evasion’. Each one is individually adapted to every person’s requirements and budget. Thalassa Ile d’Oléron - Saint-Trojan-les-Bains

Aimed at maintaining our youthfulness and keeping us feeling as young as possible as long as possible, this centre focuses more on longer -lasting programmes and the durability of the treatments. Focused on making us feel more comfortable in our own skins and coping better in a busy world so that we can breathe a little more easily and find it easier to look after ourselves in the long-term. Each client receives a personalised assessment with subsequent treatments prescribed on an individual basis. Thalazur - Royan

Using techniques imported from the East – India, Indonesia and Japan, the Thalazur Royan optimises these treatments to help one attain a deep relaxation and a better understanding of one’s own body. The massage sessions aid both the body and the spirit. A ‘must try’ is the new ‘Somato-Relexology’ programme – a hybrid of Chinese and Californian techniques that has thus created a sculpting process unique to Royan. This treatment lasts just 52 minutes but the results endure a lot, lot longer.

Vélodyssée 2014This cycling tour takes place between Roscoff in Brittany and Hendaye in Aquitaine. In Charente-Maritime there will be 150 kilometres of cycle routes right across the department. This is a nationally sponsored event although organised in France by the Charente-Maritime. www.lavelodysee.com

HermioneWork began on the reconstruction of Lafayette’s frigate ‘Hermione’ in 1997 - the ship that took Lafayette across the Atlantic in 1780 to assist General Washington in the American Civil War. He had convinced the French king to aid Washington with reinforcement and fought alongside the Americans on the ‘Hermione’ for over eighteen months.The ship is 65 metres long, has three masts with over 1,500 square metres of sails and a hull built of oak. It was decided to rebuild the ship to commemorate the maritime heritage of France and more locally, the importance once held by the Arsenal of Rochefort.

2014 will see ‘Hermione’ undergo sea trials, probably in September and October. At the start of the year the Hermione- LaFayette Association will start recruiting personnel to work on board – about 80 people will be needed.


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Work will finish and the ship will set sail once again across the Atlantic in March 2015 supported by the French and American Navy. She will stop at symbolic ports of call en route – Rochefort, of course, to the Canaries, Annapolis and Newport then finally New York and Boston. This journey originally took 38 days to complete. She will return to France in August 2015. www.hermione.com

Oysters Green oysters from Marennes-Oléron

Marennes-Oléron is Europe’s leading oyster-producing area. The oysters infuse their flavour from the small basins in which they are placed to mature, taking on the taste specific to oysters from this area and their characteristic green colour due to the presence of the microscopic algae, the blue navicula.The quality production is indicated by red labels and there are various «vintages « («crus») depending on the time the oysters have spent in the basins: «Fines» spend a month there; «spéciales» two months; the «pousses» four to eight months. Traditionally, they are eaten raw with small sausages flavoured with white wine in Oléron, or accompanied by «grillons» (pork sausages) in Charente.

Oysters 24/24 from a vending machineThe Gillardeau boutique on the Ile d’Oléron has been providing oysters to the Elysée Palace since the time of Francois Mitterand and are said to be the Rolls Royce of this shellfish. It has now installed a vending machine next to the shop where people can buy fresh oysters at any time of the day or night. The machine is kept at a low temperature and the oysters are changed every day. Prices are the same as in the shop. This is unique in France and probably the world.NB Charente-Maritime is also highly regarded in the production of sea salt, potatoes from the Ile de Ré, snails, butter, mussels, cognac of course and the famous pineau as well as saffron.

‘The Most Beautiful Villages of France’ There are four of these in the Charente-Maritime:

Ars-en-Ré is known for the bell tower of its church that sports a black and white arrow which is used as a point of reference for mariners.La Flotte-en-Ré is an extremely pretty fishing and pleasure port that sways to the rhythm of the boats in the harbour.Mornac-sur-Seudre is an old commercial port that now concentrates on oyster and salt production and is an artisan’s paradise!Talmont-sur-Gironde was founded in 1284 by Edward 1st of Aquitaine on a rocky promontory overlooking the Gironde Estuary, just 15 kilometres south of Royan. www.les-plus-beaux-villages-de-france.org


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Saintonge- the Historic Route of the TreasuresThis is an area steeped in history dating back 40,000 years with 22 historic monuments, eleven chateaux, seven religious monuments and four museums. The church of Aulnay-sur-Saintonge is a UNESCO Heritage site and the surrounding countryside is known as ‘the golden’ as it is so pretty, places like the Boutonne Valley which is called the French Tuscany. www.monuments-saintonge.com

Historic heritage: three Abbeys The Royal Abbey of Saint Jean d’Angely is a UNESCO Heritage site mainly due to its position on the Route de Saint-Jacques de Compostella. www.abbaye-royale-angely.comThe Abbey de Fontdouce between Saintes and Cognac dates back to 90 A.D and is now classed as a Historic Monument. The 21st jazz and classical music festival takes place there in July 2014. www.fontdouce.comThe Abbey aux Dames de Saintes was built in the eleventh century and holds an annual classical music festival where the young musicians use instruments dating from that period. www.abbeyauxdames.org

An eco-friendly destinationCharente-Maritime has been involved with sustainable tourism for the last 35 years or more. The ‘Department and the Conservatoire du Littoral’ has been active in preserving the natural heritage of the area, one methodology being the creation of ‘Fragile Natural Spaces’. This incorporates 2,500 hectares and 40 sites now under protection due to an ecotax, 8,000 hectares under protection from development and the creation of 9,500 kilometres of walking and cycling routes through the area. A good example of a protected area is the Marais Poitevin which has been classified as a ‘Grand Site de France’ and a ‘European Destination of Excellence’ since 2010. It is so ecologically enriched that it must be protected as it is the second most important humid area of France.



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Charente-Maritime Press File 2014 - france-atlantic.com · Charente-Maritime Press File 2014 Facts & figures ... A Violin on the Sand - Royan ... from swing to ‘manouche’ to blues