Chassiron: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

At the foot of the cliffs of Chassiron in Saint-Denis-d'Oléron are traditional fish weirs. Their permanent fishing walls are 500 to 700 metres long and horseshoe-shaped. When planning a trip to Chassiron, renting a holiday apartment may be part of your personal arrangements.

Nature

The Pointe de Chassiron is a coastal area with cliffs above the ocean and views of the horizon. From the Chassiron Lighthouse, the 360-degree panorama extends across the northern part of Île d'Oléron, the ocean, the Pertuis d'Antioche, the coast of La Rochelle, and the Îles d'Aix and de Ré.

During a guided tour of the Pointe de Chassiron, the Balise d'Antioche and the coastal erosion that has shaped this coast for centuries are explained. In the rocky tidal area of Chassiron, ecological shore fishing on foot is also offered; this is only possible with prior reservation.

The section of the Chemin d'Oléron from Saint-Denis-d'Oléron to Domino leads to the northern tip of Île d'Oléron, the Chassiron Lighthouse and the fish weirs.

Gardens and Sightseeing

The garden of the Chassiron Lighthouse comprises four ponds. It combines a contemporary garden with a traditional garden containing 21 varieties of roses, a vegetable garden and vines. The gardens were created in 2007, have been awarded the “Jardin Remarquable” designation and are free to access.

The garden of the Chassiron Lighthouse features information panels, rotating information tables and viewing telescopes. An audio station is available in French, English and German; there is also a relief map in Braille.

The car park at the Chassiron Lighthouse can be reached via the Départementale D734. Toilets and rubbish bins are located in the commercial area in front of the entrance to the lighthouse garden. In the lighthouse, visitors can climb the spiral staircase with 224 steps to a viewing platform.

Culture and History

The village of Chassiron is considered an example of traditional Oléron architecture. The present-day Chassiron Lighthouse was built in 1834 to replace an earlier tower and entered service on 1 December 1836.

The Musée du Phare de Chassiron is located in the former lighthouse keepers’ living quarters and explores life between land and sea. Using authentic objects and explanatory models, it conveys the everyday life and craftsmanship of the people of Oléron. A lift enables people with reduced mobility to access the first floor of the museum rotunda.

The fish weirs catch fish by allowing them to enter with the incoming tide and trapping them inside as the tide goes out. Such fish weirs have been documented in writing since at least the 14th century. The former lifeboat shed of Saint-Denis-d'Oléron was converted into an exhibition space. The Croix des Marins near Chassiron commemorates the victims of shipwrecks off the coast. The Saint-Denis-d'Oléron lifeboat station was responsible for the Antioche and Chassiron areas.

Further places: Genouillé, Nieul-Sur-Mer, Saintes, Cressé, Échillais, Chenac-Saint-Seurin-D'uzet, Le Gua, Saint-Martin-De-Ré

To the higher-level travel overview: Charente-Maritime.