Before you settle in at a campsite on Île de Ré, a little background on the island’s geography won’t hurt: how big is it really, what’s its area, its shape, and its population? We’ve gathered all the useful facts here so you can get to know Île de Ré better —from the bridge all the way to the Baleines Lighthouse—without getting lost. Spoiler: the island is small, but it’s absolutely stunning.
Key points to remember
- It covers an area of 85 km², is nearly 30 km long, and up to 5 km wide.
- A long, narrow island that narrows to about 60 meters at a place called Le Martray.
- 10 municipalities, stretching from Rivedoux-Plage in the east to Les Portes-en-Ré in the west.
- More than 17,700 year-round residents, with the population increasing tenfold in the height of summer.
- The terrain is virtually flat: the highest point is only about 20 meters above sea level.
Dimensions and Shape of the Island
Ré la Blanche stretches from east to west for about 30 km, from the bridge to Pointe des Baleines, with a width that rarely exceeds 5 km. The entire island covers 85 km², making it one of the largest French islands, though far behind its neighbor Oléron (see below). Its rugged, indented silhouette resembles a long ribbon laid across the Atlantic.
This strip of land narrows in places. At Loix, the Fier d’Ars inlet cuts into the northern coast, leaving only a narrow isthmus. Further west, at Le Martray, the island narrows to a strip of sand and marshes: here, the road runs with the sea on one side and the salt marshes on the other. This is the narrowest point of the territory, part of the municipality of Ars-en-Ré. As for the terrain, it is conspicuous by its absence: the highest point, the Peu des Aumonts in Bois-Plage-en-Ré, does not exceed about twenty meters. This flatness partly explains the weather on Île de Ré, which is very sunny but exposed to the winds.
| The Île de Ré in Numbers | Value |
|---|---|
| Area | 85 km² |
| Length (east-west) | about 30 km |
| Maximum width | up to 5 km |
| Narrowest point (Le Martray) | about 60 meters |
| Coastline length | nearly 100 km, about half of which is beach |
| Number of municipalities | 10 |
| Permanent population | more than 17,700 residents |
| Summer population | up to about 220,000 |
| Highest point (Peu des Aumonts) | about 20 m |
| Bicycle paths | approximately 110 km |
Ten towns and a population that increases tenfold in the summer
The Île de Ré is divided into 10 municipalities, from east to west: Rivedoux-Plage, Sainte-Marie-de-Ré, La Flotte, Saint-Martin-de-Ré, Le Bois-Plage-en-Ré, La Couarde-sur-Mer, Loix, Ars-en-Ré, Saint-Clément-des-Baleines, and Les Portes-en-Ré. Saint-Martin-de-Ré, with its Vauban citadel—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—is the island’s most iconic municipality, while Sainte-Marie-de-Ré is the most populous and Les Portes-en-Ré, at the very tip, is the most unassuming.
Year-round, the island has more than 17,700 permanent residents. But as soon as the warm weather arrives, the population increases tenfold and can reach nearly 220,000 people at the height of the season. This summer surge explains the focus on preserving natural areas, including salt marshes, bird sanctuaries, and dune systems.
Traveling Across the Island: Distances and Useful Landmarks
The good news about a small, flat island is that you can quickly get around it. With about 110 km of bike paths, Ré is best explored by bike: allow 2 to 3 hours at a leisurely pace to get from the bridge to the western tip, without having to climb a single hill. By car, the trip from east to west takes about 30 minutes, excluding summer traffic.
To put these 85 km² into perspective, here’s a point of comparison: its larger neighbor, the Île d’Oléron, covers 174 km², or about twice as much. Ré therefore plays the proximity card: everything is within cycling distance. As for access, the toll bridge, which opened in 1988, spans 2,926 m over the Pertuis Breton strait to connect the island to the mainland, across from La Rochelle.
Take a day to drive from the bridge to the Baleines Lighthouse: you’ll have crossed the entire island, seen its marshes, harbors, and beaches, and understood why people never quite get over it.
Pierre Schmitz
Want to explore these 85 km² without spending your entire stay behind the wheel? Our 4-star campsite is located in La Couarde-sur-Mer, right in the center of the island, 600 m from the beach and just a short bike ride from the marshes and the harbors. We offer a heated pool area and a bike rental service so you can explore from one end to the other. Open from April through the end of September—the perfect base for visiting Île de Ré.
