Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Login or Signup

Get the App

Login or Signup

Routes
Bike touring routes & trails
France
New Aquitaine
Rochefort
Saint-Palais-Sur-Mer

Terre-Nègre Lighthouse – Côte sauvage loop from Parking Le Flandre

Routes
Bike touring routes & trails
France
New Aquitaine
Rochefort
Saint-Palais-Sur-Mer

Terre-Nègre Lighthouse – Côte sauvage loop from Parking Le Flandre

Easy

4.3

(3)

70

riders

Terre-Nègre Lighthouse – Côte sauvage loop from Parking Le Flandre

00:47

12.7km

70m

Cycling

Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: June 21, 2026

Tips

Cycling is not permitted along parts of this route

After 2.83 km for 51 m

After 5.19 km for 154 m

Waypoints

A

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

1

2.39 km

Auture Well

Highlight • Trail

This section of Eurovélo 1 goes from La Rochelle to Royan. At this point on the cycle path, there is a beautiful view of the Puits de l'Auture.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

2

2.85 km

Concié Beach and Carrelets

Highlight • Beach

Fishing huts (carrelets) on the rocks. Further along the coast is a less crowded beach than the Plage de la Grand-Cote (next door), with rocks to explore either side and the famous Le Pont Du Diable and Grottes des Corsaires caves.

Tip by

3

2.92 km

The carrelets of Saint-Palais-sur-Mer are among the most emblematic elements of the Charente coastline. Their history blends traditional fishing, tourist development, and local heritage.

🐟 Origin of the carrelets

Originally, the word "carrelet" referred to a square fishing net used since the 17th century. A precise description can be found as early as 1769, in the writings of the scholar Henri-Louis Duhamel du Monceau, who mentioned this type of fishing on the Saintonge coast. 👉 At that time, these were not yet the current huts, but simply a net operated from rudimentary structures.

⚓ Artisanal fishing structures

The first local carrelets were simple wooden platforms, built by the fishermen themselves to stand above the water. They were mainly used to catch shrimp, fish, and crabs near the shore, without going out to sea. 👉 It was a family and coastal fishery, less dangerous than sea fishing.

🏖️ 19th – early 20th century: transition to a leisure activity

At the turn of the 20th century, with the rise of seaside resorts like Saint-Palais, the carrelets evolved. Holidaymakers and notable figures adopted this practice: construction of fixed jetties, appearance of huts on stilts. The carrelets then became places for relaxation as much as for fishing. 👉 They already contributed to the postcard image of the coast.

🪵 After 1945: democratization and multiplication

After the Second World War, the number of carrelets increased sharply. They became a symbol of popular leisure and conviviality. The transition was gradually made from a means of subsistence to a recreational activity.

🌊 Storms and reconstruction

The carrelets are fragile in the face of storms:
1999: massive destruction (up to 90% in some areas)
2010 (Xynthia storm): new damage
Many have been rebuilt identically, respecting tradition.


🏛️ Today: protected heritage

In Charente-Maritime, there are about 400 carrelets. They are:
integrated into the public maritime domain
allocated by administrative authorization (often renewed every 5 years)
Since 2018, they have been recognized as cultural heritage of the department.


👉 In Saint-Palais, they can be observed in particular:

at Pont du Diable
at the conche du Concié
at the Puits de l’Auture

Showing Translation

Tip by

4

3.27 km

Terre-Nègre Lighthouse

Highlight • Monument

The Terre-Nègre lighthouse is a landmark forming a cylindrical tower a little over 26 meters high.

Located on the tip of Terre-Nègre, in the town of Saint-Palais-sur-Mer, in Charente-Maritime, it is intended to mark the southern pass of the Gironde estuary and to signal the presence of a bench of dangerous sand, the "English bar".

Translated by Google •

Tip by

5

3.31 km

Tête Nègre Lighthouse

Highlight • Religious Site

Easily accessible place, only the last meters are prohibited for cyclists.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

6

3.57 km

The idea of erecting an oratory on this land was presented to Monsignor Le Camus, Bishop of Saintes and La Rochelle in 1903. The project was approved and, a year later, the building saw the light of day. Consisting of a nave in exposed stone and a narthex bell tower, the chapel can accommodate 15 to 20 people. The baptism of the Jeannette bell, the blessing of the oratory dedicated to Notre Dame as well as the first mass took place on August 25, 1904.

Having become too small to accommodate all the faithful, the chapel underwent some modifications in 1908, in particular an enlargement, and the stone nave gave way to a longer and much wider brick nave. Monsignor Augouard, Bishop of Congo-Brazzaville blesses the Chapel again for the occasion.

Following the feat of Louis Blériot crossing the English Channel in an airplane in 1909, the chapel then dedicated to Notre Dame became the chapel of the Aviators and then a little later that of the Sailors. When Joseph Odelin died in 1927, the chapel was offered to the diocese. During the Second World War and like the Royan coast, the bombings did not spare the chapel of the airmen, rebuilt in 1947.

Created in 2005, the association of Friends of Notre Dame du Platin has the mission of bringing to life and maintaining the Chapel of the Aviators. Masses are celebrated there throughout the summer and the pilgrimage at the end of August closes the summer season.

On the occasion of the guided tour of the Sentier des Douaniers, we invite you to discover the interior of the chapel and admire the models of planes it houses, offerings also called ex-voto.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

7

5.27 km

Grande Côte Beach

Highlight • Beach

The Grande Côte beach extends for more than 2.5 kilometers, between the dunes and the forest. Swimming is supervised in high season.

In low season, sand yachting and other activities are possible on Grande Côte beach.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

8

9.59 km

Côte sauvage

Highlight • Other

This forest path offers breathtaking views of the coast. Bordering the Cambots d'Ansoine forest near La Palmyre, it is a place where nature and the sea meet. From the forest paths, the views open onto the sandbanks that change with the tides.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

B

12.7 km

End point

Parking

Loading

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

9.42 km

1.47 km

1.05 km

403 m

351 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

10.4 km

908 m

785 m

341 m

241 m

Sign up to see more specific route details

Sign up for free

Elevation

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Sign up to see more specific route details

Sign up for free

Weather

Powered by Foreca

Wednesday 8 July

38°C

19°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 14.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

guide_signup

Want to know more?

Sign up for a free komoot account to join the conversation.

Sign up for free

Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

Save

Edit route

Download GPX

Move start point

Print

Share

Embed on a website

Report an Issue

Report restricted access

Nearby routes

Moderate

4.6

893

Grand Tour of Île d'Oléron

03:59h

66.8km

110m

Explore
RoutesRoute plannerFeaturesHikesMTB TrailsRoad cycling routesBikepackingSitemap
Download the app
Follow Us on Socials

© komoot GmbH

Privacy Policy