The best MTB trails around Saint-Palais-Sur-Mer

The memorial of Fort du Chay in Royan is today an important place of remembrance dedicated to the victims of the bombings of Royan in 1945. « Le Souffle » The memorial is called « Le Souffle ». It was designed by the artist Luc Richard and inaugurated on May 8, 2022. It takes the form of a kind of open-air circular chapel, made up of 86 vertical tubes. The tubes evoke both: * the destructive force of the bombings; * the movement and momentum of Royan's rebirth after the war; * the circle, which symbolizes the solidarity and mutual aid of the survivors. Why Fort du Chay? The choice of this location is particularly symbolic. Fort du Chay was a strategic military site overlooking the entrance to the Gironde estuary. Built in the 19th century, it was modernized and then occupied by the Germans in 1940 and integrated into the Atlantic Wall defenses. It was heavily bombed in 1945. Today, only a few fortified elements and blockhouses from the old complex remain. The bombings of Royan The memorial primarily recalls the two bombings that marked the end of the war: * January 5, 1945 * April 15, 1945 Royan was then destroyed by about 85%. Official sources indicate 442 civilian victims and 47 German soldiers, in addition to numerous wounded and missing. The memorial is complemented by five educational panels dedicated to the history of the fort, to Royan during World War II, to the bombings, and to the liberation of the Royan pocket. A 3D digital reconstruction also allows for visualizing the fort during the war. Note: there is also, very close to Fort du Chay, a stele dedicated to the men of Operation Frankton, which constitutes another distinct memorial site from « Le Souffle ».

The port of La Palmyre is a must-see on the Charente coast. Nestled in the heart of the Bonne Anse bay, it offers a peaceful setting where pleasure boats, calm waters, and preserved natural landscapes blend together. It is an ideal place to take a break during a cycling or mountain biking trip, admire the panorama, and enjoy the maritime atmosphere. With its remarkable viewpoints over the bay and the ocean, the port of La Palmyre is an essential stop for discovering the coastline.

This viewpoint, located near the port of La Palmyre, offers a magnificent panorama of the Atlantic Ocean. It is an ideal place to take a break and enjoy the landscape, between the sea, boats, and surrounding nature. The atmosphere is particularly pleasant, especially at sunrise or sunset, when the colors illuminate the coast. A must-stop during a bike or mountain bike ride on the Charente coast.

La plage de la Grande Côte is one of the most beautiful sites in Saint-Palais-sur-Mer. Lined with dunes and forest, it offers a vast panorama of the Atlantic Ocean as well as a breathtaking view of the Coubre lighthouse and, on a clear day, of the island of Oléron. Easily accessible by bike or mountain bike, it is an ideal place to take a break, admire the landscape, enjoy the sea air and immortalize this exceptional setting.

Beautiful view, I recommend it

Nice quiet little road that offers some shade on hot days.

Here you'll find a romantic little lighthouse, and behind it lies a garden with a bench overlooking the sea, a lovely place to stop for a break. Afterwards, you can continue along the cliff to the right until you reach Euro Velo 1 again.

The tides are constantly changing the landscape.