PRESS PACK. Tourism & Sport in Charente-Maritime.

Transcription

1 PRESS PACK Tourism & Sport in Charente-Maritime

2 Welcome to the premier tourist destination in France for French travelers. Situated on the Atlantic Coast between Nantes and Bordeaux, Charente-Maritime is particularly well known thanks to certain destinations : - La Rochelle Ile de Ré - The Coast (Ile d Oléron, Royan, and Rochefort) - Cognac country - The Marais Poitevin (Green Venice) How to get here? By road and motorway y A10 Paris : 430 km y A10 Bordeaux : 70 km y A83 / N137 Nantes : 120 km By rail TGV Atlantique Direct rail links with Paris (3 hours), Bordeaux (21/4 hours), Nantes (2 hours) and Poitiers (1 hour 10 mins) z 2 By air La Rochelle / Ile de Ré Airport Phone : 33(0) z Several regular airlines operate flights from Europe and France to La Rochelle-Ile de Ré airport : Ajaccio, Londres (Stansted* et Gatwick), Southampton, Birmingham, Manchester, Genève, East Midlands, Porto, B ristol, Dublin, Bruxelles/Charleroi, Lyon* *Annual lines

3 la Charente-Maritime #charentemaritime feel its energy Charente-Maritime, birthplace of so many adventures, of discoveries and of emotions A long coastline, a distinctive light and warm climate, a countryside of contrasts and beautiful colours, fine golden sands, the islands with their singular charm (Ré, Oléron, Aix et Madame), undulating hills, preserved villages with their Romanesque churches, chapels, abbeys and other monuments; the Marais Poitevin with her boats, the elegant towns, notably La Rochelle with her Old Port ; the vineyards..all these exceptional places entertain many visitors every year to discover or rediscover the area. Summary UNMISSABLE CHARENTE-MARITIME... P 4 FAMILY, NATURE, HERITAGE, GASTRONOMY... P 6 CHARENTE-MARITIME, Sporting paradise... P 8 tourism in the Charente-Maritime... P 11 3

4 The Arsenal of Rochefort CMT - E. Coeffe Build, make fast and refit the ships. The arsenal has maintained close to 550 vessels throughout three centuries. Today, emblematic sites like the Corderie Royale, the Garden of the Returnees, the Marine Museum, and, more recently, Hermione, have been enjoyed by old and young alike, recounting the history of the sea and of the area. This year, the Arsenal is 350 years old. La Rochelle The three famous towers of La Rochelle Saint Nicholas, de la Chaine and de la Lantern lighthouse are the most famous vestiges of the medieval, maritime fortifications of the town and from where there are magnificent views over to Fort Boyard, the old Port and the islands. The Lantern Tower is the oldest on the Atlantic Coast, rising to a height of 70 metres and it has always served as both a lighthouse and a prison. After years of renovation, the tower has now reopened to visitors for CMT - Aude SCHAEFFER unmissable CMT - E. Coeffe Royan historic seaside town Villas line the shore dating from the Belle-Epoque, rubbing shoulders with classic 1950 s buildings, all geometry and colour. André Malraux, erstwhile Minister of Culture called the Church of Notre Dame here a Concrete Cathedral. It has five beaches - all of top quality and graded in the premier category of cleanliness and maintenance and its pleasure port is one of the most important on the Atlantic Coast. Emile Zola discovered Royan back in 1886 and Sarah Bernhardt was a frequent visitor to the Casino. Picasso lived here for a year with two of his muses, Marie-Thérèse Wlater and Dora Maar. Family Plus is a label awarded to places in France that go the extra mile to make holidays even more unforgettable for all the family. Freepik CMT - E. Coeffe The great wild beaches of Ile de Ré The magnificent beaches of the Ile de Ré seduce all fans of wide open spaces. In the centre of town, huddled in amongst the pine trees or hiding behind a sand dune, there are endless places to be able to swim or fish in an unchanging, wild landscape. As it is so flat, it is an ideal place to cycle and there are more than 100 kilometres of cycle tracks that lead to many of the unforgettable sites of Ré the White. 4

5 The waters of the Charente The Charente river has its source in the Haute-Vienne and it meets the ocean at Rochefort. It winds through 35 communes as well as the charming town of Saintes, a Ville d art & d histoire, that is intriguing in the abundance of its history dating back to antiquity. A gabare is used to navigate the river a traditional flat bottomed boat that used to transport merchandise to market when the town had a thriving port. charente-maritime CMT - C. Triballier L Ile d Oléron and the Bassin de Marennes Here is a unique experience for the visitor multi-coloured cabins around the ports, flotillas of barges, fishing boats Immerse yourself in the world of oyster production, a traditional industry that has been fashioned by the area. The result of the alchemy between the freshwater of the Seudre River and the seawater, the Marennes oyster is the only one in France to have a Red Label. DARRI S. Laval The Marais Poitevin Grand Site de France, the Marais Poitevin AKA the Green Venice, unveils her verdant countryside : the ferns, the willows, and above all the canals that inspire you to take a leisurely boat tour. The vineyards of Saintonge In Saintonge Dorée and Haute Saintonge, travel through the vineyards, bathed in sunshine, to discover cognac and the local wines. If Mum and Dad try the Pineau de Charente, the kids can taste the grape juice. The caves and castles are home to the wine growers, all passionate about their produce and proud to explain everything you could wish to know about charentais wines. CMT - E. Coeffe ACCOMMODATION FOR ALL TASTES Whether you are looking for a welcoming hotel, family oriented campsite, farm, apartment or chambres d hôtes, in the town centre or in the heart of the countryside, there is something for everyone. The accommodation throughout the department has its own unique personality and feel, so much so that you will want to return to Charente-Maritime time after time. 5 Château des Enigmes Ker-terre Office de Tourisme Saintonge Dorée Gettyimages

6 FAMILY, NATURE, HERITAGE, GASTRONOMY Sébastien LAVAL Cécile TRIBALLIER / CMT Keep it in the Family! La Charente-Maritime, a family destination! The national Brand «Family Plus», is recognised by the Ministry of Tourism and recognises communes throughout France that are particularly strong in what they offer for families, whether its entertainment for all ages, types of business or being easy to access the services on offer. In Charente Maritime, the following communities have been awarded the label Family Plus for the last three years : Royan, Saint-Georges-de-Didonne, Saint-Palais-sur-mer, Rivedoux-Plage and Saint-Martin-de-Ré. Going back to my roots! With six thalassotherapy centres (Ile de Ré, Châtelaillon-Plage, Royan, Ile d Oléron) and three thermal spas (Saujon, Rochefort, Jonzac) at the heart of the Atlantic coast, Charente-Maritime is a point of reference for any wellness treatments that use water. There is 460km of coastline and 91 beaches an unforgettable countryside especially for those who love the ocean. There are also a myriad of activities on offer in Charente-Maritime, on the beaches or in the water. Pleasure is the only order of the day! 6 Jacques Villégier

7 A gift for you Top quality salt, oysters, mussels, cognac or pineau des Charentes Charente-Maritime produces excellent fayre, much of which is recognised by UNESCO. This diversity of gastronomic products guarantees a top quality local cuisine for anyone who appreciates good food and drink. There are plenty of opportunities in Charente- Maritime to experience the local products markets, tastings, cookery courses, visits something for everyone. Did you know? The brand «Huître Marennes Oléron» is known throughout the world as a label denoting excellent quality and a unique taste. Four types of oyster are raised in the department - Fine de Claire, Fine de Claire Verte, Spéciale de Claire and Pousse en Claire known for their wonderful flavour. CMT Jac Pommier Huîtres Charente-Maritime Nature & heritage In Charente-Maritime, nature is queen. There are many different landscapes both natural or man-made - that co-exist marshes, coastline, vineyards, countryside, the foreshore all jostling for position. The department is marketing this wonderful array of natural heritage through the creation of fourteen Pôles-Nature. J. Damase Sylvain Roussillon Did you know? It was in 1995 that the Department of Charente- Maritime created the brand to guarantee the quality of its natural heritage and to contribute to its preservation. Today there are fourteen protected sites that are called Pôles-Nature to be found all over the area, witness to the relationship between man and nature. An area such as Charente-Maritime with so much history has many stories to tell. From the ancient town of Saintes to the Arsenal of Rochefort, the territory has a fascinating past. Elsa COEFFE / CMT 7

8 S. Laval CHARENTE-MARITIME, Sporting paradise active and attractive! A department for sport and sportsmen Supported by sporting committees and the Comité Départemental Olympique et Sportif, the départment is a partner in numerous sporting events throughout the year and encourages everyone to practise a sport. Financing and distributing the «chèques-sport», especially created for students (an idea of the Conseil Départemental des Jeunes), grants are awarded to talented youngsters who show a real potential (licenced in Charente-Maritime). The départment also helps uncover new talent and encourages top quality performances as well as contributing to the building and maintainance of the sporting infrastructure stadiums, gyms, stands The three principle departmental supports : To encourage as many people as possible to take up a sport, especially youngsters. To push everyone in sport to attain to the highest possible level. To contribute financially to the organisation of sporting events. z For more information visit : charente-maritime.fr From the middle of the 90 s Charente-Maritime has encouraged sport following the excellent results attained in national and international competition. Since 2013, grants have been available anything between 85 and 2730 euros awarded to those who have attained a place on the ministerial lists categorised as Hopefuls, Youngsters, Senior and Elite. These places are based on performance in the various disciplines in the French Championships, European or World competitions, Olympic Games or Paralympics - and in the adapted sport and Handisport categories. This year, encouraged by the results of 2015, 132 sports people have been sponsored in twenty different disciplines helping them financially to follow their sporting dream in a club in Charente-Maritime. Sailing is the best represented sport in the départment, thanks to the fine historic tradition it has here. There are many small sailing clubs as well as the National Training Centre in La Rochelle. The Département is ever present in the sporting arena Charente-Maritime encourages the support of many sports that need greater financial assistance than others. The départment also has a goal to push sportsmen and women to attain the highest levels which means supporting them financially so they can turn professional. 8

9 2016 Focus on the Olympic Games!!! In anyone s sporting career, the Olympic Games are the pinnacle of a sporting dream. So this year of course there is a focus on Rio and the 2016 Olympic Games. Charente Maritime has decided to support four athletes aiming for the Games simply because of their potential based on past performance. Mathilde DE KERANGAT,, twelfth in the World Sailing Championships 2016 in the radial laser class, has been selected for Rio, Sarah STEYAERT, tenth in World Sailing Championships 2016 in the 49er FX class, Maxime GUÉRIN, selected for the archery team in the Paralympics September 7th and 8th 2016, Et enfin Charline PICON, was World Windsurfing Champion in 2014 and sixth in Sport for everyone! Nautical activities With 463 kilomètres of coastline, four islands (Ré, Oléron, Aix and Madame), two magnificent channels and many rivermouths, Charente-Maritime is ideal for a whole raft of water based sporting activities 25 clubs and «Écoles Françaises de Voiles» affiliated to the French Sailing Fédération are available to anyone passionate about this sport. MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS 2016 : 14 th 19 th June : Ile de Ré Toyota Open International - Tennis handisport 5 th 10 th July : La Solitaire Bompard - Le Figaro 23 rd July : Red Bull Cliff Diving 5 th 21 st August : Olympic Games in Rio 23 rd 26 th August : International Tour of Poitou- Charentes 4 th 6 th November : Autumn Rally 27 th November : La Rochelle Marathon Sylvain Roussillon For the water sports fans The town of Saujon is a fine example of somewhere dedicated to water sports water-skiing and associated water sports such as wakeboard, wakeskate and kneeboard. You are pulled along by a circular cable ten metres into the air at a speed of about 30 kilometres an hour. Up to seven skiers can take part at any one time with a more difficult course available for the hardened pro! And for those who want even more The flyboard, invented in 2011, and the hoverboard, in 2014, are boards that appeal to the snowboarder as you are propelled through the water by a jet-ski motor, on the end of a 21 metre tube. These new innovations allow you to surf through the air, 12 metres above the water! 9

10 Golf Sébastien LAVAL ASR cycling The département and the Charente-Maritime Tourist Board work tirelessly to put in place, maintain and promote the European Cycling routes that traverse the area. - La Vélodyssée (the French part of EuroVelo 1, Roscoff / Hendaye, nearly 160 km in Charente- Maritime) ; - La Vélofrancette (Ouistreham / La Rochelle, 45 km in Charente-Maritime, inter-connecting with La Loire à Loire à Vélo and La Vélodyssée ) ; - Le Canal des 2 Mers à Vélo (Royan / Sète, about 60 km in Charente-Maritime, connecting with La Vélodyssée ) ; - La Scandibérique (French part of the EuroVelo 3, 30 km to the south of the département, between the Charente and the Gironde) ; - La V92 - Les rives de Charente (Ile d Aix / Excideuil, 130 km in Charente-Maritime, connecting with La Vélodyssée ). For the swingers (!) Charente-Maritime has ten golf courses. Technically challenging courses, golf schools, undulating fairways, unforgettable views over the estuary of the Charente or the Gironde, or over the islands, Fort Boyard or the Trousse Chemise... there are so many reasons to love golf in Charente Maritime. Swingolf 2015 Rugby L Atlantique Stade Rochelais, a club created in 1898, is one of the oldest in France The team has 10,000 season ticket holders, and is now in the top flight of French Rugby the top 14. The Stade Marcel Deflandre, is in the heart of La Rochelle, welcoming up to 15,000 fans for every home match. Walking Thirteen Nature Trails criss-cross the départment, emphasising the heritage, nature and local history thanks to well placed markers along the routes. To discover : the Chemins de Saint-Jacques de Compostelle, 125 km in Charente-Maritime. horse riding In Charente-Maritime, horse-riders can choose between gallops on the beaches, rides through the woods and forests, through vineyards, across the marshes or along the coast. National and international riding competitions take place here too, such as the Horse Jumping International in Royan which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Did you know? In Charente-Maritime, the waterpolo pool of Saint-Jean-d Angely is one of the oldest in France, created over 70 years ago. PHOVOIR 10

11 Facts & figures sur le tourisme en Charente-Maritime Area : y 6,864 square kilometers y 460 km of coastline y 4 islands y 42 pleasure ports y 10 wellness centres y 42,201 hectares of Green Venice (Marais Poitevin) y 14 Pôles-Nature natural areas Population : 630,000 inhabitants Main cities : y La Rochelle (74,123 pop.) y Saintes (25,645 pop.) y Rochefort (24,698 pop.) y Royan (17,690 pop.) Main sector of activity : Tourism : accounts for 17% of tourism to the Grande Region; employs 9% of the population; accounts for over 1.6million euros; involves 3,500 businesses; has 659,000 beds which have 33.6 million bed nights. Other economic areas of importance : Industry: nautical, aeronautical and farming Business Teaching Main attractions : 1 rst department of France for wellness with six thalassotherapy centres and three thermal resorts. 1 rst department of France for disabled facilities 317 different places are branded with the Tourism & Handicap label. There are five UNESCO Heritage Sites : La Citadelle de Saint-Martin de Ré; Church of Saint-Pierre d Aulnay Royal Abbey of Saint-Jean-d Angély; the Pilgrimage Hospital at Pons and the church of Saine-Eutrope de Saintes (on the Saint-Jacques de Compostella Route). The Aquarium of La Rochelle and the Zoo of La Palmyre are two of the top ten provincial tourist attractions in France. TripAdvisor Travelers Choice Awards The Francofolies is the third most important music festival in France with 130,000 spectators. Le Grand Pavois Top of the 5th most important nautical show in in the world and most important in France that has been going for 44 years. Gastronomy : must taste : Cognac, an «AOP» or PDO brandy Charron mussels, tender, fleshy, golden orange and flavoursome Pineau des Charentes, a fortified wine made from a blend of grape juice and Cognac brandy Fleur de sel gourmet sea salt from the Ile de Ré Butter «Charentes Poitou» «AOP» Ile de Ré potatoes «AOP», grown in the salty earth of the Île de Ré. Tourists : y 85% of tourists are French y Internationally the British are the largest group, then Dutch, Belgian, German and Spanish. y Most are in families or couples (75% of the total) Average stay : is 7.5 nights 11

12 #charentemaritime Charente-Maritime Charente-Maritime Tourisme Juin Rédaction : Charente-Maritime Tourisme. Crédits photos : Elsa COEFFE - Alison BOISSARD - Cécile TRIBALLIER - Fotolia.com - Betty DESMIER - J. DAMASE. Press contacts : Stéphane Morand stephane.morand@en-charente-maritime.com Tél Port Newsroom News, press releases, media... Marie-Claire Chéné marie-claire.chene@en-charente-maritime.com Tél Marine Brouard marine.brouard@en-charente-maritime.com Tél stephane.morandpro smorand.presse fr.linkedin.com/in/smorandrp Charente-Maritime Tourisme 85, boulevard de la République - F LA ROCHELLE Cedex 9 Tél. : 33 (0) Fax : 33 (0) info@en-charente-maritime.com