Oleron Island: general information

Access of Oleron island

By car, Oleron is served by the A10 motorway, fifty kilometres (31.5 miles) away.

By train, from La Rochelle, Rochefort, Saintes and Surgères train stations, bus links are organised.

It is also possible to arrive on island of Oleron by boat.

Bridge of Oleron island

Since 1966, Oleron is linked to the main­land by a three kilometres (1.9 miles) bridge, which is the third longest French bridge after Saint-Nazaire’s and Re island's ones.

Originally you had to pay to cross it, but now it is toll-free.

Weather

Enjoying an exceptional sunshine of more than two thousands hours per year, Oleron is nicknamed "La Lumi­neuse" ("The Luminous").

The island is located in the sunniest area of mainland France in the spring.

Economy

Besides tourism, the main resources of the island are oyster farming, aqua­culture, cultivation of early vege­tables and vines.

Formerly directed largely to the manu­facture of Cognac, the harvest can now produce local wines and especially the famous "Pineau des Charentes".

The marshes that occupy much of the east and south of the island were once salt pans providing an important source of income. Some of them are currently used for oyster farming.

The islanders

Nearly twenty-two thousand people live in the island. During the tourist season, the population is eight times higher, and even fifteen times for some municipalities.

Hereafter is the list of Oleron island's eight districts, as well as the main villages joined to them (from North to South).