here the press pack 2014 - Charente

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Charente-Maritime Press File 2014
Phovoir
S. Roussillon
Facts & figures
Area:
6,864 square kilometres
460 km of coastline
4 islands
42 pleasure ports
10 wellness centres
42,201 hectares of Green Venice
(Marais Poitevin)
14 ‘Pôles-Nature’ natural areas
Population:
630,000 inhabitants
Main cities:
La Rochelle (77,376 pop.)
Saintes (27,795 pop.)
Rochefort (26,125 pop.)
Royan (18,992 pop.)
J.M. Rieupeyrout
S. Laval
S. Roussillon
Main sector of activity:Tourism:
accounts for 74% of tourism to the region;
employs 9% of the population;
accounts for over 1.6million euros;
involves 3,500 businesses;
has 663,000 beds which have
33.4 million bed nights.
Other economic areas
of importance: Industry:
nautical, aeronautical and farming
Business
Teaching
Tourists:
86% of tourists are French
Internationally the British are the largest group,
then Dutch, Belgian, German and Spanish.
Most are in families or couples
(75% of the total).
Average stay:
is 7.3 nights
Where they stay:
60% in private accommodation
(17% are in secondary homes of which
there are over 88,660 in the department);
18% camping;
14% in chambres d’hotes and self-catering;
5% in hostels and similar;
3% in hotels
Visit our website for more information: www.france-atlantic.com
J. Villégi
er
Aquarium
La Rochel
le
S. Roussillon
Charente-Maritime Press File 2014
Main attractions:
First department of France for wellness
with six thalassotherapy centres
and three thermal resorts.
First department of France for disabled
facilities – 325 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.
The Francofolies is the third most important
music festival in France.
It celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2014.
Le Grand Pavois – the most important
nautical show in France that has been
going for 42 years, attracting over 92,000
people every year and generating over
25million Euros over six days.
There are 850 exhibitors and 700 boats over
100,000 square metres of exhibition space.
Access from the UK:
By air to La Rochelle from London,
Southampton, Birmingham, Manchester,
East Midlands, Bristol, Leeds/Bradford
and Edinburgh.
By road – three hours from St.Malo.
X. Léoty
By rail from London via Paris to La Rochelle.
(3 hours from Paris to La Rochelle by TGV).
PRESS CONTACT :
Gillian GREEN - Magellan PR - Tel: +44 (0) 7515 283 287 - [email protected]
Stéphane Morand - Tel: + 33 (0)5 46 31 71 77 - [email protected]
Events in Charente-Maritime 2014
April - May - June
C. Triballier
Kite Flying Festival - Chatelaillon– 19th – 20th April
An annual event held at Chatelaillon-Plage with more
than 250 competitors and 40,000 spectators
Festival Passe Portes - Ile de Ré – 27th May – 1st
June www.festivalpasseportes.com
A festival of open-air theatre free to all and taking place
when the island is heading towards the summer months
tourisme
Stand up Paddle Challenge 30th May – 1st June
www.diabolo.com
This takes place on the Ile d’Oléron.
Claudius
Maison du
Maraisthon - Marais Poitevin -14th – 15th June
www.maraisthon.fr
The fifth anniversary of the race this year.
Festivals Nuits Romanes – all over the department - 30th June – 1st September 2014
http://www.en-charente-maritime.com/nuits-romanes
All sorts of entertainment that takes place all over the destination
in the summer. This year is the tenth anniversary of the Festival.
International Film Festival – La Rochelle
27th June – 7th July 2014
www.festival-larochelle.org
The 41st festival is held in La Rochelle. In 2012, 82,429 spectators
watched 389 performances of 142 long films and 61 shorts.
X. Léoty
July- August - September
The Francofolies - La Rochelle -10th – 14th July 2014
www.francofolies.fr
It is the Thirtieth Anniversary of the festival this year.
M. Garnier
Festival de Saintes – Saintes - 11th – 19th July 2014
www.abbayeauxdames.org
This will take place in July 2013 in the Abbaye aux Dames in the
centre of Saintes. The concerts are all classical with music from
the present day back to the Renaissance.
hard
P. Souc
A Violin on the Sand - Royan - 19th – 26th July 2014
www.violonsurlesable.com
Festival Musique en Ré – Ile de Ré - 20th – 30th July 2014
www.musique-en-re.com
The only festival in France dedicated to amateur composers
gathered together so the public may appreciate the talent and
the diversity of French song.
Events in Charente-Maritime 2014
ARDC
Festival international de Guitare – Ile de Ré – 11th July 2014
This festival takes place all over the island with a number of
recitals given by guitarists from all over the world.
Jazz en Ré – Ile de Ré – 22nd -25th August 2014
bit.ly/JazzEnRe
The Sixteenth Jazz en Ré Festival will take place this August in
Saint Martin de Ré. Taking place at the port of St Martin de Ré
under the Vauban fortifications, this enjoyable jazz festival has
something for everyone, from swing to ‘manouche’ to blues.
Festival BD Ile de Ré – Ile de Ré – 7th August 2014
www.festival-bd.com
This festival welcomes artists and designers from the cartoon
world for the most colourful two days of summer!
Marydor.c
om
Le Grand Pavois - La Rochelle – 17th – 22th September 2014
www.grand-pavois.com
One of the most important boat shows in the world with more
than 750 boats, 89,000 visitors in 2012 and covering an area of
100,000 square metres.
A. Birard
October - November - December
Jazz between Two Towers - La Rochelle
4th – 11th October 2014
www.larochelle-jazz-festival.com
This is one of the best known jazz festivals in France attracting
stars such as John Scofield, Joe Louis Walker and Michelle
Hendricks. The beautiful setting between the towers of the old
port of La Rochelle is exceptional.
Marydor.c
om
La Rochelle Marathon - La Rochelle - 30th November 2014
www.marathondelarochelle.com
The 23rd race will take place towards the end of the month
and is the second fastest marathon after that of Paris. Usually
about 9,000 participants take part in the marathon or the 10
kilometre race.
PRESS CONTACT :
Story-angles Charente-Maritime 2014
Did you know - Saintes?
E. Cœffe
Saintes is renowned for its Romanesque architecture – the Germanicus
Arch, the thermal baths, the underground aqueduct, and one of the best
preserved amphitheatres in France. To this day architecture is important
to the town as it has the most respected university departments of
architecture outside of Paris. www.saintes-tourisme.org
Did you know - La Rochelle?
Welcoming over 4,000 clients a day in high season, the ice cream parlour
of the Babin Brothers has become an institution in La Rochelle. Just a
couple of steps away from the Old Port, the ice cream really recognise
some of the specialities of the region – so there is sea salt, melon and
strawberry and pineau flavour! They are famous for their batonnets or
little sticks of ice cream either of coconut and white chocolate or mango
and dark chocolate!
E. Cœffe
C. Triballier
Georges Simenon, creator of the formidable Inspector Maigret lived in
La Rochelle between 1927 and 1936. He eventually moved north due to
German activity in the area at the start of the Second World War but he
always remembered in La Rochelle as it is the town he loved the most in
his life.
La Rochelle pioneered the introduction of the self-service urban bike
back in 1974 so Boris John son has the Yélo system to thank for coming
up with the idea! There are now 350 bikes available in the town and 150
kilometres of cycle paths.
La Rochelle Aquarium
New for 2014 are:
• New film - ‘The Sharks…in Questions’ highlights the many features of
this endangered species and shows how aquariums can help with their
conservation.
• New art show – 30 pieces by Jean Michel Benier – the artist who has
been creating posters for the Aquarium for the last 40 years.
• New app – a free app with a quiz, images, a game, news, an audioguide,
pictures and more!
Three Towers:
The three famous towers of La Rochelle (de la Chaine, Saint-Nicholas
and Lanterne) are the remains of what were the mediaeval maritime
fortifications. The Lantern Tower is the oldest lighthouse on the Atlantic
Coast of France.
www.la-rochelle.monumnets-nationaux.fr
S. Laval
Did you know - Royan?
Architecture – villas line the shore dating from the Belle-Epoque, rubbing
shoulders with classic 1950’s buildings, all geometry and colour, which
typified the post war reconstruction period of the 1950’s. André Malraux,
erstwhile Minister of Culture called the Church of Notre Dame here a
‘Concrete Cathedral’.
Five beaches, all of top quality and graded in the premier category
of cleanliness and maintenance, line this part of the Atlantic littoral
known as the Beautiful Coast. The most famous is ‘La Conche’ (The
Shell) is typified with blue and white striped beach tents lining the
shore. The pleasure port id one of the most important on the Atlantic
Coast and a promenade to view the boutiques and art galleries is
simply a MUST.
E. Cœffe
‘Un Violin sur la Sable’ is unmissable for classic music fans. Taking
place between 19th – 26th July this year, the festival attracts stars
such as Nathalie Dessay and Renaud Capucon.
Walk in the footsteps of the famous… 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. There is an exhibition ‘Royan – Picasso’ taking
place here this year until 2nd November at the local museum.
Family Plus – is a label awarded to places in France that go that
one step further to make the holidays even more unforgettable for
all the family. They have produced a special brochure listing all the
various clubs for kids of all ages, different activities and sports that
can be found in Royan in the summer months.
www.royan-tourisme.com
NB : Royan is a ‘Ville d’Art et d’Histoire’ as is Rochefort, Saintes and the Ile de Ré.
S. Roussillon
Four exceptional islands lie off the coast
of Charente-Maritime
If these islands have points in common – a rich, preserved countryside
and a favourable climate – each one is very different from the others.
www
Maison du
tourisme
S. Roussillon
Ré ‘the White’ evokes above all the villages of white houses with
green shutters that abound with small alleys, a paradise of hollyhocks.
There are also cycle paths over all the island, taking in the marshes,
beaches, forests and traditional harbours.
http://www.holidays-iledere.co.uk/
Aix ‘the authentic’ is the last island of the destination that is accessible
only by boat. Here, there are no cars and peace and tranquillity are
guaranteed. On foot or by bike, everyone can go right round this little
crescent of earth at their own speed, where an exceptional heritage
blends with untamed countryside.
http://www.holidays-fortboyard.co.uk/
Oléron ‘the luminous’, is a first-class mixture of wildlife, heritage and
regional produce. What with its long beaches – magnificent places
for watersports and board sports – a large number of forests of oak
and pine, its marshes and birds, the citadel of the Château d’Oléron,
Fort Boyard, and the oysters of Marennes-Oléron, the good life has
definitely set up home here. http://www.oleron-island.com/
J.P. Boule
ste
ix
Madame ‘the youngest’, less well-known than the other islands of the
destination, the Ile Madame is a unique place. Accessible at low tide,
via the ‘cow pass’, discover this minuscule piece of land, practically
untouched, located between the estuary of La Charente and the sea.
There are a large number of carrelets – wooden huts on stilts for fishing at
high tide – on the West coast of the Isle.
http://www.holidays-fortboyard.co.uk/
V. Sabade
l
V. Sabadel
Spa Secrets
Jonzac is unusual being built on an area of thermal troglodyte caves.
New for 2014 are some treatments for the lumbar and cervical areas.
The water here has a very high mineral content as it has spent more than
30,000 years underground! www.chainethermale.fr/jonzac.html
Jonzac has one of the largest indoor aquatic parks in Europe spanning
over 10.000 square metres. The water is at a constant 29 degrees so one
feels more like in the Caribbean than the Atlantic.
www.lesantillesdejonzac.com
Saujon has added some new things for 2014 with new hydro massage
features in the pool, new treatment rooms and a ‘cure’ especially
designed for those with high levels of stress. There is a new solarium,
hammam and ice cold fountain as well as new sensory shower and
relaxing showers. www.thermes.net
Rochefort is now the sixth most important town in France for thermal
treatments, especially for rheumatism. They welcomed more than 16,000
guests in 2013, 70% are likely to return this year to repeat the successful
‘cures’. www.thermes-rochefort.com
Le Richelieu
u
Le Richelie
Thalassotherapy
Le Richelieu - La Flotte-en-Ré
The brown seaweed of the Ile de Ré is known as the face’s best friend
as it is used in treatments at the thalassotherapy centre here in La Flotte
to help stimulate the skin to breathe and renew. Therapy leaves the skin
feeling clear and luminous with a well-nourished epidermis and a great
feeling of regeneration. Le Richelieu specialises in facial treatments
generally and in wrinkle therapy (around the eyes) more specifically. All
treatments are for men and women alike.
Relais Thalasso - Sainte-Marie-de-Ré
…is a themed thalassotherapy centre that is as renowned for its ‘Thalavie’
programme as for the regular thalassotherapy treatments. The idea is to
draw a balance between well-being and getting in shape. One may
try any of the themed courses such as wine-tasting, walking and hiking,
photography or art, at the same time as experiencing new wellness
treatments for the body.
Thalacap - Ars-en-Ré
Those with very little time to spare can experience something as little
as a half-day package at the Thalacap, the ‘Atlantic’, which includes
exfoliation with Atlantic sea salts and then sculpting under a pine oil
shower or in a bubble bath where one is immersed in pine essence. For
those who prefer the aromas of the Mediterranean, one may choose
Mediterranean sea-salt and essence of citrus fruit to choose from.
J. Damase
S. Laval
Thalasso La Rochelle Sud - Chatelaillon-Plage
This centre specialises in skin care of face and body alike – anti-ageing
in fact. Hydro-baths, hydro-jets, face masks, sculpting, exfoliation…all
the treatments aim to make the guests look and feel younger. There
are three different programmes on offer- ‘Parenthèse’, ‘Echapée’
and ‘Evasion’. Each one is individually adapted to every person’s
requirements and budget.
Thalassa Ile d’Oléron - Saint-Trojan-les-Bains
Aimed at maintaining our youthfulness and keeping us feeling as
young as possible as long as possible, this centre focuses more on
longer -lasting programmes and the durability of the treatments. Focused on making us feel more comfortable in our own skins and
coping better in a busy world so that we can breathe a little more
easily and find it easier to look after ourselves in the long-term. Each
client receives a personalised assessment with subsequent treatments
prescribed on an individual basis. Thalazur - Royan
Using techniques imported from the East – India, Indonesia and
Japan, the Thalazur Royan optimises these treatments to help one
attain a deep relaxation and a better understanding of one’s own
body. The massage sessions aid both the body and the spirit. A ‘must
try’ is the new ‘Somato-Relexology’ programme – a hybrid of Chinese
and Californian techniques that has thus created a sculpting process
unique to Royan. This treatment lasts just 52 minutes but the results
endure a lot, lot longer.
J. Damase
Vélodyssée 2014
This cycling tour takes place between Roscoff in Brittany and Hendaye
in Aquitaine. In Charente-Maritime there will be 150 kilometres of
cycle routes right across the department. This is a nationally sponsored
event although organised in France by the Charente-Maritime.
www.lavelodysee.com
tte
Association Hermione - Lafaye
Hermione
Work began on the reconstruction of Lafayette’s frigate ‘Hermione’ in
1997 - the ship that took Lafayette across the Atlantic in 1780 to assist
General Washington in the American Civil War. He had convinced
the French king to aid Washington with reinforcement and fought
alongside the Americans on the ‘Hermione’ for over eighteen months.
The ship is 65 metres long, has three masts with over 1,500 square
metres of sails and a hull built of oak. It was decided to rebuild the
ship to commemorate the maritime heritage of France and more
locally, the importance once held by the Arsenal of Rochefort.
2014 will see ‘Hermione’ undergo sea trials, probably in September
and October. At the start of the year the Hermione- LaFayette
Association will start recruiting personnel to work on board – about 80
people will be needed.
Associatio
tte
e - Lafaye
n Hermion
Work will finish and the ship will set sail once again across the Atlantic in
March 2015 supported by the French and American Navy. She will stop
at symbolic ports of call en route – Rochefort, of course, to the Canaries,
Annapolis and Newport then finally New York and Boston. This journey
originally took 38 days to complete. She will return to France in August
2015. www.hermione.com
Oysters
Green oysters from Marennes-Oléron
Marennes-Oléron is Europe’s leading oyster-producing area. The oysters
infuse their flavour from the small basins in which they are placed to
mature, taking on the taste specific to oysters from this area and their
characteristic green colour due to the presence of the microscopic
algae, the blue navicula.
The quality production is indicated by red labels and there are various
«vintages « («crus») depending on the time the oysters have spent in
the basins: «Fines» spend a month there; «spéciales» two months; the
«pousses» four to eight months. Traditionally, they are eaten raw with
small sausages flavoured with white wine in Oléron, or accompanied by
«grillons» (pork sausages) in Charente.
S. Morand
Oysters 24/24 from a vending machine
The Gillardeau boutique on the Ile d’Oléron has been providing oysters
to the Elysée Palace since the time of Francois Mitterand and are said to
be the Rolls Royce of this shellfish. It has now installed a vending machine
next to the shop where people can buy fresh oysters at any time of the
day or night. The machine is kept at a low temperature and the oysters
are changed every day. Prices are the same as in the shop. This is unique
in France and probably the world.
NB Charente-Maritime is also highly regarded in the production of sea salt, potatoes from the Ile de Ré,
snails, butter, mussels, cognac of course and the famous pineau as well as saffron.
There are four of these in the Charente-Maritime:
Ars-en-Ré is known for the bell tower of its church that sports a black and
white arrow which is used as a point of reference for mariners.
La Flotte-en-Ré is an extremely pretty fishing and pleasure port that sways
to the rhythm of the boats in the harbour.
Mornac-sur-Seudre is an old commercial port that now concentrates on
oyster and salt production and is an artisan’s paradise!
Talmont-sur-Gironde was founded in 1284 by Edward 1st of Aquitaine on
a rocky promontory overlooking the Gironde Estuary, just 15 kilometres
south of Royan. www.les-plus-beaux-villages-de-france.org
X. Léoty
J.M. Rieupeyrout
‘The Most Beautiful Villages of France’
Saintonge- the Historic Route of the Treasures
C. Triballier
C. Triballier
This is an area steeped in history dating back 40,000 years with 22
historic monuments, eleven chateaux, seven religious monuments
and four museums. The church of Aulnay-sur-Saintonge is a UNESCO
Heritage site and the surrounding countryside is known as ‘the golden’
as it is so pretty, places like the Boutonne Valley which is called the
French Tuscany.
www.monuments-saintonge.com
Historic heritage: three Abbeys
The Royal Abbey of Saint Jean d’Angely is a UNESCO Heritage
site mainly due to its position on the Route de Saint-Jacques de
Compostella.
www.abbaye-royale-angely.com
The Abbey de Fontdouce between Saintes and Cognac dates back
to 90 A.D and is now classed as a Historic Monument. The 21st jazz
and classical music festival takes place there in July 2014.
www.fontdouce.com
The Abbey aux Dames de Saintes was built in the eleventh century and
holds an annual classical music festival where the young musicians
use instruments dating from that period. www.abbeyauxdames.org
Charente-Maritime has been involved with sustainable tourism for the
last 35 years or more. The ‘Department and the Conservatoire du
Littoral’ has been active in preserving the natural heritage of the area,
one methodology being the creation of ‘Fragile Natural Spaces’. This
incorporates 2,500 hectares and 40 sites now under protection due
to an ecotax, 8,000 hectares under protection from development
and the creation of 9,500 kilometres of walking and cycling routes
through the area. A good example of a protected area is the Marais
Poitevin which has been classified as a ‘Grand Site de France’ and a
‘European Destination of Excellence’ since 2010. It is so ecologically
enriched that it must be protected as it is the second most important
humid area of France.
X. Léoty
X. Léoty
An eco-friendly destination
PRESS CONTACT :

here the press pack 2014 - Charente

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