We are once again happy to offer are happy to offer Ile de Re as one of our painting holiday locations.  The well known and prestigeous Ile de Re is situated just off the Atlantic coast of France near La Rochelle with regular flights from Dublin, London Stansted, Bristol, Manchester, Birmingham and Southampton.

Ile de Re is a beautiful island with quaint harbours and villages, pretty white fishermen's cottages with green shutters, alleyways strewn with hollyhocks and wild flowers, pine forests and vineyards, salt pans and lighthouses, and an unspoilt charm which attracts thousands of tourists in high summer.  However, in April and September the island returns once again to the islanders and visiting artists.  It is an ideal location for painting in watercolour, acrylic, pastels and oils.

For your painting tuition , we offer David Howell current Vice President of The Royal Society of Marine Artists. David tutors also in Angles sur l'Anglin.  David draws his inspiration from the sea.  He will bring his expertise to bear on your holiday, with its ideal subject matter of small harbours with colourful fishing boats and yachts, pretty cottages, sandy beaches and seascapes, pine forests and vineyards, salt pans and lighthouses.

We offer two holidays in September on a half-board formula in Hotel les Colonnes located on the port of Saint Martin de Re in in a picturesque setting right on the quayside.  The hotel is near the shops and the historic centre of Saint Martin.  Most of the attractive guest rooms are overlooking the harbour and are all equipped with bath-toilet, and TV.

It was from Saint Martin de Re, now a delightful little port and the capital of the island, with many shops and restaurants, that the prisoners sentenced to hard labour on Devil's Island in Guyana or New Caledonia in the Pacific set out.  Most did not return.  One was the notorious Henri Charriere, better known as Papillon.  To the east of the harbour are Vaubans impressive 17th Century fortifications   with the small port from where the prisinors were shipped.