Villa Les Ensemberts – Luxurious beachfront villa with heated pool located on Ile-de-Ré, France

Due to the exclusivity of this very special place, it is not an inexpensive destination. Gourmets flock here for food and wine. Fruits de mer is the specialty, especially plump mussels and oysters. Equally good is the cognac – made locally. Local activities are plentiful and include windsurfing, sailing, horse riding and Catamaran boat trips. Also recommended are visits to Fort Boyard, and Ile d’Aix. But the best thing is cycling - leave the car at home and explore the many cycle paths.

Cycling (bike hires in all villages).
Swimming, diving, water skiing, wind-surfing, sailing (sailing schools in each village), surfing.
Golf courses at Les Portes en Ré (30 km) or on the continent at Nieul sur Mer (15 km).
Horse-riding (numerous riding-centres on the island), pony trekking.
Roller-blading.
Tennis (tennis courts 200 m from the house at the nearby Les Grenettes hotel complex).
Walking.
Fishing (local fishermen may take you on day fishing-trips).

Small fishing villages and sandy beaches.
Saint-Martin, the historic capital and administrative centre of the island with its beautiful precincts fortified by Vauban (the ramparts and citadel).
Leisure ports.
Old churches and Cistercian 12th century Abbaye des Châteliers.
Old royal buildings dating from the British and French periods and the French religious wars (13th and 17th centuries).
The wild bird sanctuary of Lilleau des Niges (one of the biggest in Europe).
The salt marshes where salt is still harvested under your eyes.
Oyster farms and their oyster beds: go taste the oysters on one of the farms but remember to bring your own white wine!.
The vineyards and the famous Pineau des Charentes wine.
The alleys between the green-shuttered white houses and their hollyhocks.
Small museums such as the hotel de Clergeotte at Saint Martin, or the Musée du Platin at La Flotte.
The numerous cycle-paths, the windmills and thousands of other surprises.
Relaxing seawater health and beauty treatments.
The bustling Protestant city of La Rochelle, across the bridge, with its museums and popular Festival des Francopholies, a festival of French pop music held in early July.