Lieu photo à Île de Ré et La Rochelle
Saint-Martin-de-Ré harbour
A round basin of masts inside Vauban's star fortifications, ringed by white houses with green shutters, and a bell tower to climb above it.
À propos Saint-Martin-de-Ré harbour
ItinéraireSaint-Martin's harbour is an almost circular basin with an island of buildings in the middle, moored yachts filling it, and low white houses with green and grey shutters all around. The whole thing sits inside Vauban's star-shaped fortifications, which are UNESCO-listed and walkable, and the church bell tower above the port can be climbed for the view down onto the roofs, the masts and the water.
Early morning is the session. The water is still, the quays are empty, and the light comes low across the basin; from mid-morning in season the ring of restaurants and shops is busy and the quay is a slow crowd. Blue hour is the second window, with the boats lit and the sky still coloured.
The lanes running back from the port are where the island's character actually is: lime-washed walls, a green door, bicycles against a wall, and hollyhocks self-seeded along the base of the stone from June into July. Work them on foot between harbour frames — nothing on the island is more than a few minutes from anything else, and most photographers here move by bike.
Meilleur moment pour photographier
Early morning for a still basin and empty quays; blue hour for lit boats
Conseils
The bell tower climb gives the only high angle on the island — worth the steps for one frame. Hollyhocks along the walls flower June into July and make the lanes.
Autres lieux à Île de Ré et La Rochelle
The salt marshes at dusk
A grid of shallow evaporation pans that turn to sheets of tinted mirror in the last half hour of light, worked by salt farmers on raised paths.
The towers of the La Rochelle old port
Two medieval towers guarding a harbour mouth barely wide enough for a yacht, with a third behind them and arcaded streets that work in rain.
Prêt à réserver ?
Notre équipe concierge choisira 2-3 photographes qui connaissent Saint-Martin-de-Ré harbour — gratuitement.