Promenade des Deux Phares – Côte sauvage loop from Parking Le Flandre

Bike touring routes & trails

Promenade des Deux Phares – Côte sauvage loop from Parking Le Flandre

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Promenade des Deux Phares – Côte sauvage loop from Parking Le Flandre

01:01

17.1km

80m

Cycling

Easy bike ride. Mostly paved surfaces. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 25, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

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2.87 km

Carrelets of Saint Palais sur mer

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The carrelets of Saint-Palais-sur-Mer are among the most emblematic elements of the Charente coastline. Their history blends traditional fishing, tourist development, and local heritage.

🐟 Origin of the carrelets

Originally, the word "carrelet" referred to a square fishing net used since the 17th century. A precise description can be found as early as 1769, in the writings of the scholar Henri-Louis Duhamel du Monceau, who mentioned this type of fishing on the Saintonge coast. 👉 At that time, these were not yet the current huts, but simply a net operated from rudimentary structures.

⚓ Artisanal fishing structures

The first local carrelets were simple wooden platforms, built by the fishermen themselves to stand above the water. They were mainly used to catch shrimp, fish, and crabs near the shore, without going out to sea. 👉 It was a family and coastal fishery, less dangerous than sea fishing.

🏖️ 19th – early 20th century: transition to a leisure activity

At the turn of the 20th century, with the rise of seaside resorts like Saint-Palais, the carrelets evolved. Holidaymakers and notable figures adopted this practice: construction of fixed jetties, appearance of huts on stilts. The carrelets then became places for relaxation as much as for fishing. 👉 They already contributed to the postcard image of the coast.

🪵 After 1945: democratization and multiplication

After the Second World War, the number of carrelets increased sharply. They became a symbol of popular leisure and conviviality. The transition was gradually made from a means of subsistence to a recreational activity.

🌊 Storms and reconstruction

The carrelets are fragile in the face of storms:
1999: massive destruction (up to 90% in some areas)
2010 (Xynthia storm): new damage
Many have been rebuilt identically, respecting tradition.

🏛️ Today: protected heritage

In Charente-Maritime, there are about 400 carrelets. They are:
integrated into the public maritime domain
allocated by administrative authorization (often renewed every 5 years)
Since 2018, they have been recognized as cultural heritage of the department.

👉 In Saint-Palais, they can be observed in particular:

at Pont du Diable
at the conche du Concié
at the Puits de l’Auture

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3.22 km

Terre-Nègre Lighthouse

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The Terre-Nègre lighthouse is a landmark forming a cylindrical tower a little over 26 meters high.

Located on the tip of Terre-Nègre, in the town of Saint-Palais-sur-Mer, in Charente-Maritime, it is intended to mark the southern pass of the Gironde estuary and to signal the presence of a bench of dangerous sand, the "English bar".

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3.26 km

Terre-Nègre Lighthouse

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Easily accessible place, only the last meters are prohibited for cyclists.

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3.52 km

Our Lady of the Aviators Chapel in Saint-Palais

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11.1 km

Promenade des Deux Phares

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The Promenade des Deux Phares offers a picturesque mountain bike route along the Atlantic coast, with panoramic views of the sea and beaches. Between the two lighthouses, you will cross sandy paths, coastal paths and pine forests typical of Charente-Maritime.

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11.7 km

Schöner Strandabschnitt am Plage de la Palmyre

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12.4 km

Les Mathes: Bonne Anse Bay

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It was formed during the 19th century following the disappearance of the island of Armote. Its richness in coastal biotopes makes it one of the largest natural sites in Charente-Maritime.
Its formation is due to the confrontation between the Atlantic currents sweeping the coasts and the currents of the Gironde flowing into the ocean.
The marine current, heavily loaded with sand, slows down as it passes Pointe de la Coubre, which allows the sand to be deposited massively around and in Bonne-Anse.
The bay is thus in perpetual evolution, so much so that the site could become an inland lake.

The extent of the dune environments is remarkable.

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14.0 km

Côte sauvage

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This forest path offers breathtaking views of the coast. Bordering the Cambots d'Ansoine forest near La Palmyre, it is a place where nature and the sea meet. From the forest paths, the views open onto the sandbanks that change with the tides.

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