Connected to La Rochelle by bridge, this flat, pine-scented island is best explored on a bicycle with a baguette in the basket. Whitewashed villages with green shutters, oyster shacks, salt marshes and long Atlantic beaches set the rhythm. It's chic in an old-money French way — nothing flashy, everything pleasant. September, once the school holidays end, is close to perfection.
Featured in Ten quiet beach escapes for a slow, sunny week · Beach