La Cotinière
Located on the west coast, in the commune of Saint-Pierre d'Oléron, La Cotinière is a little corner of paradise, where you can relax in the cool of the morning and watch the fishermen unravel their nets. Don't miss the visit to the fish auction organized by the tourist office.
A brightly-colored flotilla, the incessant ballet of boats in the harbor, intense activity on the quays in all seasons: this is La Cotinière! Facing due west out to sea, this typical little fishing port is renowned for the quality of the products it unloads: sea bass, sole, langoustines, ceteaux... In all, no fewer than 90 different species are auctioned each year. Noble species and fishing techniques adapted to these varieties make La Cotinière the leading fishing port in Charente-Maritime and seventh in France. When the ships return to port to unload the fish, it's a sight not to be missed.
After the beach, La Cotinière is a great place to stroll along the seafront or lounge on a terrace. A wide variety of shops and night-time unpacking events keep things lively. Here, life is everywhere, right down to the village streets and the morning market. Between the low-slung fishermen's houses, with their white facades edged with hollyhocks and their green or blue shutters, you can stroll, eat an ice cream after a swim, go shopping or relax on a café terrace. In the evening, between the stalls of the hawkers and the sound of live music, the crowds gather on the quays for entertainment and fireworks... In summer, La Cotinière is in full swing. At any time of day, the port of La Cotinière is always in motion. The colorful boats arriving at the rhythm of the tides make this a magical place.
Did you know?The port of La Cotinière is Charente-Maritime'sNo. 1 artisanal fishing port, with tonnage landed and sold at auction exceeding 5,000 tonnes. The diversity of species (some 90 species are represented) and the versatility of the fleet (95 vessels, 300 fishermen) characterize the port of La Cotinière.
The Victorine market on the port offers fresh seafood products unloaded directly from the boats. Located on the port of La Cotinière, after the auction, you can enjoy the quality and freshness of seafood products every day from 3:30 pm.
During school vacations and July/August, you can visit the quay on a guided tour that takes you behind the scenes of the auction.