In Marennes-Hiers-Brouage, cycling is a matter of course. Everything is close by, flat and bathed in salt air. Rent a bike here and you'll find yourself threading your way between the oyster huts, skirting the shimmering oyster beds and then, at the end of the road, the starry citadel of Brouage. We pedal in silence, just the rustle of reeds and the occasional flight of egrets. Pause on a wooden pontoon to watch the tide roll through the canals.

The ideal itinerary? Depart from Marennes and the banks of the Seudre, cross the marshes on small roads and shared lanes, arrive on the ramparts for a 360° view of the mosaic of basins. On the way back, you wind your way between carrelets and alignments of piquets, with the scent of iodine and pine accompanying your pedal strokes. The paths are accessible and level: perfect for a family outing or a contemplative getaway.