The best family-friendly hikes and walks in Forêt Domaniale Des Saumonards

There is little documentation precisely tracing the history of the building that today houses the Villa Coco restaurant. On the other hand, the evolution of the site is well known. In the 1960s and 1970s, the Douhet port was much more modest than it is today. The quays accommodated a few fishing and pleasure boats, and the port buildings were essentially intended for maritime activities (harbor master's office, technical rooms, storage). The place was still little frequented by tourists. From the 1980s onwards, the municipality undertook a major modernization of the port. The quays were redeveloped, the basin was enlarged, and shops appeared to support the development of pleasure boating and tourism. It was in this context that the building now occupied by Villa Coco was converted to accommodate a catering activity. When Villa Coco moved in, the establishment profoundly transformed the premises by creating a vast terrace overlooking the port, an exotic decoration, and a festive atmosphere that contributed to making Douhet a renowned place to go out on the island of Oléron. The restaurant opened in the early 2010s at the Douhet marina, in Saint-Georges-d’Oléron. It was housed in a building offering a privileged view of the boats and quickly distinguished itself with an original concept combining a restaurant, a cocktail bar, and a holiday atmosphere inspired by Bali and the tropical islands. Its name, "Villa Coco," evokes this exotic spirit, found in the decor made of wood, palm trees, thatched roofs, and furniture reminiscent of tropical seaside resorts. The establishment offers cuisine blending French, Mediterranean, and Asian influences, with a significant emphasis on tapas, seafood, and cocktails. Over the years, Villa Coco has become one of the best-known establishments on the island of Oléron. In the summer, the restaurant regularly organizes evenings with concerts, DJs, and entertainment, contributing to making the port of Douhet a popular nightlife spot for both locals and holidaymakers. Today, the establishment is among the highest-rated restaurants in the municipality, with over a thousand online reviews, and is often cited as a must-visit destination for its setting facing the port as much as for its cuisine.

Perfectly accessible on foot or by bike from the Port du Douet parking lot, this beach is sublime like all those on the island of Oleron

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The port of Douhet, located in the commune of Saint-Georges-d’Oléron, is today a pleasant marina, but its history is intimately linked to the salt and wine trade. Origins Until the 19th century, the region's products (notably salt from the salt marshes and wine from Oléron) were difficult to transport by sea. To remedy this, a vast project was launched in the 1840s: a channel over 3 km long was dug between Saint-Georges-d’Oléron and the ocean, opening onto the new port of Douhet. An active commercial port The port quickly became an export center: * barges loaded salt and wine barrels there; * boats also brought building materials and various goods intended for the island. In the 1870s, there were around 400 ship movements per year, with several thousand tons of goods imported and exported. The decline At the end of the 19th century, several factors led to its decline: * the gradual abandonment of the salt marshes; * the improvement of roads and then the arrival of the tram on the island; * the regular silting up of the channel. After the First World War, the channel silted up almost completely and commercial traffic gradually disappeared. The revival In the late 1980s, the basin was completely rehabilitated and transformed into a marina. It now accommodates around 350 to 400 boats and is one of the main marinas on the island of Oléron. Its location, in the cove of Malconche, offers a remarkable view of Fort Boyard and the Île d’Aix. The old channel, although no longer navigable to the village, continues to supply seawater to the old salt marshes and today constitutes a pleasant walking or cycling route. It is a place where the traces of Oléron's maritime past can still be read in the landscape: the quays, the bridge, the channel, and the old hydraulic structures bear witness to the era when salt was the island's main wealth.

entrance to Bois de la Maratte with many fun singletracks

The port of Douhet is essentially the mouth of the Douhet Canal. There are several nice restaurants nearby.

There is a market on Saturday morning and you can eat lots of delicious things at the stalls.

Pleasant walk ending in Boyardville,lots of great restaurants.