Port of la Cotinière

An authentic artisanal fishing port

During your visit of the Ile d'Oléron you will find the first fishing port of the department of Charente-Maritime: the port of La Cotinière, west of the town of Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron, is even one of the top 10 fishing ports in France! Always artisanal, it has specialized in fishing for fish and shellfish nobles such as lobsters, langoustines, céteaux, sole and sea bass. Variety is the order of the day, with almost a hundred different species landed at the auction in one year.

Very lively and constantly in effervescence, the port of La Cotinière offers visitors a picturesque show. It's hard to get tired of watching the entries and exits of the colored fishing boats and witnessing the unloading of fishing products. On the docks, the activity never stops. In the morning one can still see the fishermen untangling their nets. The fish market is the subject of guided tours organized by the tourist office of Saint-Pierre in summer and during school vacations.

The paradise of gourmets and gourmands

You will find at the port of La Cotinière fresh products from the sea in direct arrival and of high quality. Fish and shellfish are in sale on the fish market and at the market Victorine open every afternoon from 3:30 pm.

You will also discover many local products on the stalls of the market which is held on the port every morning in season and from Monday to Saturday the rest of the year.

Very lively all year round, the port of La Cotinière is home to more than 25 shops out of season. About fifty additional shops open from April to October. In summer, they welcome you every day, even on Sundays. Among them, numerous restaurants which emphasize the products of the soil and the sea.

A festive village

A real village, the port of La Cotinière is an ideal place to stroll, store, discover local products and immerse yourself in the culture of the area. After the beach, you can enjoy an ice cream on the terrace or walk along the seafront. In the evening, during July and August, the port is particularly lively: the atmosphere is festive with the fairgrounds, the opening of many shops until 11 pm and the joyful atmosphere, often musical, in the bars and restaurants.

Every evening, a night market is also held on the port: from 6 p.m., it gathers stalls of local producers and craftsmen, jewelry, toys and fun gadgets. Street shows and concerts animate the quays, to the delight of holidaymakers of all ages.

A remarkable heritage to discover

The port of La Cotinière also seduces the visitors for its authentic setting and its preserved heritage. The typical fishermen's houses, with facades decorated with hollyhocks and green and blue shutters, face the colorful fishing boats.

The chapelle Notre-Dame-des-Flots represents the remarkable heritage of the 20th century: built in 1966, it shelters sublime stained glass windows and an impressive exposed roof structure. You can reach the port of La Cotinière in about twenty minutes from our camping on the island of Oléron !