A short boat trip from La Rochelle to l’Île de Ré gave just enough time to explore the island’s historic capital, St Martin de Ré.  Although the port is ringed with cafés and thronged with holiday makers the narrow back streets are quiet and surprisingly green.  Ancient and modern houses alike front directly onto the cobbled lanes but hollyhocks, lavender and roses find root in narrow pockets of earth.  Walls are whitewashed, roofs are brindled clay tiles, doors and shutters are painted in subtle shades of blue, grey and green.  It all looks timeless, spontaneous and accidentally tasteful.  I guess the local mairie works hard to keep it that way.

 

A magnificent plant of Solanum jasminoides festoons a white-washed cottage
Quite a big lavender bush and a very small door
Whitewash, clay tiles and grey paint help new houses blend inconspicuously into the ancient lanes
A touch of green and a bike by the door
The village is ringed by massive fortifications, legacy of the 17th century wars of religion
This hardware shop offers a wonderful blend of the essential, the practical and the slightly whimsical

Click on any photo to view the gallery.

 

A rooftop view from the church bell tower.  Click twice to zoom in on the detail.