The base camp for architecture lovers
Step 1
Chatelaillon
The keystoneIt’s decided, you’re going to Chatelaillon this fall. Very good choice, word of a local! This is the season of the most beautiful lights on the resort. It’s the perfect time to sublimate the rich architectural heritage of the place and to capture some beautiful moments. To get into the bath, we choose to rent a typical 19th century villa. Immersion guaranteed…
Feel like taking a stroll through the period houses? You’ve got your pick! Follow the Terra Aventura special architecture trail and let your little wolves discover the Châtelaillon of the Belle Époque. Kids are entitled to their base camp too!
Unless you prefer a storytelling tour with Évariste. Evariste? He’s a nice dandy specializing in Châtelaillon anecdotes from the beginning of the century. With his bicycle and his boater, you won’t be able to miss him.
Dramatized visit
"Evariste's Beausejour
When:
Every Monday morning, July 11 through August 29 at 10 a.m.
Where:
Starting from the train station
By reservation at the Tourist Office
Fare:
11€/Adult – 4,50€/Junior (10 to 16 years old)
From 10 years old
Step 2
Villas of character
The starfishYou don’t know where to put your camera? We share with you a small selection of villas that are worth a look:
Villa Kristiania : the Nordic
Scandinavian atmosphere for this house inspired by Norwegian villas. Bought from a catalog at the end of the 19th century and arriving in kit form by rail, it surprises with its original wooden architecture and its chalet look.
Beauséjour: the prestigious
Former hotel built in the century of Flaubert and Zola, Beauséjour is today a crossroads of culture, leisure and art in Chatelaillon.
Pssst: Beauséjour has lots of great activities for kids. Cultivate your seeds of talent!
Villa Dunes Chatelaillon PlVilla des Dunes : the brightness
It is while walking along the sea that we come face to face with the most emblematic of the châtelaillonnais villas. Majestic, with a bright red color, it is the perfect example of the “castel” type of residence.
Villa Oasis : the discreet one
Built in 1888, it is no mirage! Once intended to be a summer camp, it now offers exceptional accommodation with a breathtaking view of the ocean.
Step 3
Church of Châtelaillon-Plage
In full chorusOnce upon a time, there was an incredible metamorphosis: that of the Sainte-Madeleine church, a major building in Chatelaillon dating from the 19th century.
The person responsible? Contemporary artist Amaury Dubois and his passion for curves and vibrant colors.
His tools? The art of sketching, an army of brushes and spray cans.
The result? A superb 600 m2 monumental fresco that blends architecture, spirituality and modernity. An experience that touches the heart.
I work a lot with emotions. My painting is colorful, intuitive and emotional.
Step 4
Rochefort-sur-Mer
The city at any testWe leave our base camp (we will return there, promised) to go to Rochefort-sur-Mer to 25 km in the south of Chatelaillon. Course on the country of Fort Boyard!
Did you know that? You can reach Félindra, its tiger and Father Fourras by train. Practical and especially nicer for the environment!
On site, naval history and military architecture enthusiasts will be able to visit the Corderie Royale, a unique building in France. Want to take to the sea? Initiate yourself to the art of rope-making with the 3 workshops offered: spinning, committing or seamanship. Raise the anchor!
Freshwater sailors can learn while having fun with the discovery of the Hermione, the majestic frigate that bathes in the port, as well as the Accro’mat fun trail.
Step 5
Fortified city of Brouage
A visit that does not lack saltHistory doesn’t wait in Charente-Maritime! Go to the fortified city of Brouage, 40 km away. Its name does not tell you anything? We give you 4 good reasons to remember it:
1. Brouage is a 16th century town fortified by Pierre de Conti d’Argencourt and then by Vauban. And for that alone, it’s worth the detour.
2.It is classified among the “Most Beautiful Villages of France.”
3.Brouage is also nicknamed “the City of Salt”, because it once formed a strategic crossroads for the salt trade in Charente-Maritime, a rare and expensive commodity.
4.The nine stained glass windows of its church are created by a Canadian: Nicolas Sollogoub!
Nicolas Sollogoub
Step n°6
Royan
The flashbackFinish your Charente escapade 60 km further, in the heart of Royan and its typical architecture of the 50s. Cradle of art and history, the seaside resort offers a charm quite different from that of Châtelaillon.
Walk along its cornice lined with beautiful villas, take a gourmet break at the market and enter its amazing church with its fifties atmosphere. You will find there magnificent stained glass windows dedicated to the setting sun.
