Ile de Re (La Rochelle)

Ben and I spent a long weekend with Stuart and Sarah in La Rochelle, where Sarah's sister and family had hired a gite. It was a welcome break from Paris and the heat, with some sea breezes to cool us - although Nathanial, Sarah's nephew, was on hand to help us chill off in the pool!

The Ile de Re is a small island, just off the coast of La Rochelle, connected to the mainland by a long bridge. It's an idylic refuge for city dwellers and is best viewed by bicycle. Stuart and I had been here a few years ago and whilst a lot had developed on the island, it still preserved it's own sense of identity, with its picturesque harbour and quaint boutique lined streets.