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Huttopia Chardons Bleus

île De Ré, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
1 acre hosted by Huttopia F.
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A central camping location in the pine trees of Île de Ré, with bikes for hire and a heated swimming pool

“Cycling is the island’s international sport”, the Huttopia Chardons Bleus website declares. You can see their point. With over 100km of family-friendly cycle paths covering Île de Ré, it’s certainly the main way to get from campsite to patisserie to market to museum to beach and back again. Maybe stopping at a café along the way. Although, when you consider the miles of sandy coastline, dotted with summer swimmers and children in armbands, it seems there are plenty of water sports trying to claim that title too. Surfers, sailors and sand castle makers, it’s all about the seaside here.

A kilometre inland, spread across a vast 12-acre tract of light pine woodland, Huttopia Chardons Bleus is one of the island’s most central places to stay. With over 200 pitches – some of them occupied by pre-pitched safari tents and wooden chalets – this is no camping minnow. Facilities are plentiful – there are two new washroom blocks, a playground, boules pitches and a reception building with a small shop and free Wi-Fi – while, in 2017, they even added an outdoor swimming pool. Presumably it's there in case you need to cool off again after cycling back from the sea.

Despite its size, the pines, shrubs and foliage help break up the campsite and give it a deceptively smaller feel. Every pitch has some shade – much needed since the island can boast as many sunshine hours as the Côte d’Azur. The nearby villages of Sainte-Marie-de-Ré and Flotte-en-Ré offer plenty of places to eat if you fancy branching out from the campsite’s own restaurant and bar. Sainte-Marie-de-Ré also has an excellent daily market where you can pick up the islands famous ‘white gold’ (sea salt), along with oysters, potatoes and other Île de Ré specialities.

The nearest beach takes about 10 minutes to reach by bike (the campsite has some for hire if you haven’t brought your own), though, for a bit of culture the 20-minute ride to the Vauban fortifications of Saint-Martin-de-Ré is a must. Now recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the 17th century citadel here was designed to accommodate the entire island population plus, of course, their cattle, and the sturdy walls, moats and drawbridges are quite a sight. Don’t worry, the town also has a beach too – Plage de la Cible – so your cycling can still be complimented with some added water sports.

Activities
Biking
Surfing
Swimming
Natural features
Beach
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Location
île De Ré, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, FranceTraditional, ancestral territory of various First Nations according to To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
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Hosted by Huttopia F.Joined in December 2016
From the host
Nestled between Sainte-Marie-de-Ré and Flotte-en-Ré, the Huttopia Chardons Bleus – Ile de Ré campsite is located in the heart of a magnificent pine forest, 10 minutes by bike from the ocean. Enjoy an invigorating stay between ocean, vineyards and forests and set out to discover this little haven of paradise on the Atlantic ocean. Put on your sailor’s top and breath in the sea air: you are on holiday! At Sainte-Marie-de-Ré, Notre Dame beach is recommended for shellfish gathering, the beaches of Montamer and La Salee allow you to swim when the tide is in, and Grenettes beach is recommended for surfing. Fancy swimming in fresh water? Children and adults will all love the new swimming pool and paddling pool at the campsite, designed in harmony with the natural spirit of the site. There is also a great new playground for your children to enjoy along with installation of brand new washrooms and a more pleasant reception area where you can ask for good tourism advice. With markets, horse riding, cycling, hiking, and of course the Atlantic Ocean and beaches all on the doorstep of Huttopia Chardons Bleus, everything is accessible for a great stay on Île de Ré. On a pitch in the shade of the pine trees, in a wood and canvas safari tent, a wood trailer or a chalet, everyone can camp the way they like best for a truly personalized holiday in France.
Nearby attractions
Camping on an island? Then it's the beaches you'll be visiting. Montamer and La Salee are the best for swimming when the tide's in and Grenettes is the one for surfers (you can hire boards right by the waterfront). At Sainte-Marie-de-Ré, Notre Dame beach is good for shellfish gathering. Windsurfing, kayaking and catamaran sailing are all popular here too, while, on land, bikes are the best way to get around with a good network of family-friendly cycle trails across the island (bikes are available to hire from the campsite). There are also public tennis courts 1km from Huttopia Chardons Bleus. For something less active, discover the Vauban fortifications – a recognised UNESCO world heritage site – visit the ramparts of Saint-Martin-de-Ré, the ruins of Abbey Châteliers, the Fort de la Prée and the steeple of Ars-en-Ré. A visit to Phare de la Baleine, the main lighthouse that is synonymous with Île de Ré, is also a must.
Food and drink
The restaurant on-site serves excellent homemade pizzas, along with a host of other snacks and drinks best enjoyed out on the terrace. It's only open over the May public holidays and through July and August. There's also fresh bread delivery each morning (make sure you order the evening before). A whole range of delicious produce can be found among the island’s market stalls, with markets held every morning at la Flotte, Rivedoux and Sainte-Marie throughout the year. Oysters, sea salt, Pineau, Cognac and the island's delicious potatoes are the most local goods of choice.
Video
https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZWb-mHiBfuc

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