Châtelaillon-Plage: family-friendly beach resort

The main attraction here is the beach – two-and-a-half kilometres long, it is largely protected by the Ile de Ré to the north and the Ile d’Oléron to the south. The beach is backed by a pedestrianised walkway with the road above accessed by steps, making it perfect for children, as they have a safe area in which to play. It has great views of the Iles de Ré, d’Oléron, d’Aix and the brooding Fort Boyard (now privately owned and scene of a popular French television show). It is flanked by restaurants and cafes so you don’t have to go far to get a bite to eat or something to drink. Read more     Find self-catering holiday rentals here: TripAdvisor   Photo 1 by PicsOfDay / CC BY 2.0 image cropped; Photo 2 by thierry llansades / CC BY 2.0 image cropped; Photo 3 by Frédérique Voisin-Demery / CC BY 2.0 image cropped