Self-catering holiday homes: Ile d'Oleron

Make a holiday rental property or holiday villa in Ile d’Oleron, France your home away from home

The Ile d’Oleron lies in the Atlantic Ocean, just off the coast of the Poitou-Charentes region of France. The island is the second largest of France, after Corsica, and is a hugely popular destination for holiday makers, with many day-trippers and visitors to Ile d’Oleron holiday villas arriving daily. The island is connected to the mainland via a large road bridge, which makes reaching an Ile d’Oleron holiday villa remarkably easy. The Ile d’Oleron is much greener and more scenic than its neighbour, the Ile de Re, ideal for anyone who has a love of nature and the great outdoors.

Things to do in Ile d’Oleron, France

The beautiful sandy beaches of the Ile d’Oleron mean that holiday rental properties are in high demand during the summer months. Many hours can be spent simply lazing on the beach, soaking up the sun and enjoying the relaxing atmosphere. There are plenty of opportunities to sail and windsurf from a holiday villa on the Ile d’Oleron, and surfing also thrives off the Atlantic swells that crash onto the western shore.

The forested interior of the island is carved by rivers and streams, along which oyster and fishing nets are found. These help with the fantastic reputation that the Ile d’Oleron enjoys for its fish and seafood restaurants. Both the Foret des Saumonards and the larger Forest de St Trojan are ideal for walking and cycling.

The huge bird park, Le Marais aux Oiseaux, also draws a large crowd to Ile d’Oleron holiday villas. The park is a magnificent place, providing a rare breeding ground for many species of endangered birds. There are over 300 bird species that call the park home, with plenty of public walkways to help you see some of the rarer species whilst you walk through the park.

Places to visit on holiday to Ile d’Oleron, France

The main town on the island, Le Chateau, is a fantastic centre of farming, fishing and boat building, with a huge range of 17th century architecture giving the town a wonderfully timeless atmosphere.

Weather in Ile d’Oleron, France

Ile d’Oleron is the sunniest place on the west coast of France. Blessed with over 2,000 hours of sunshine every year, Ile d’Oleron holiday villas are in high demand during the summer months. Winter conditions can be harsh, with little shelter from the Atlantic, but the many attractions of Ile d’Oleron’s town, villages and forests are still very popular throughout the year.

Cheap flights to Ile d’Oleron, France

La Rochelle Airport (LRH) is located fantastically close to a holiday villa in Ile d’Oleron. The airport, although tiny, receives regular flights from nine British airports including Southampton (SOU) and Manchester (MAN), provided by Ryanair, EasyJet and Flybe.

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