Wednesday 26 October 2016

Oyster Farming at Fort Royer, St-Pierre d'Oléron, France

St Pierre d'Oléron is a small peninsula island 180 km north or 2h30 drive from Bordeaux. From La Rochelle, it's about 80 km south or 1h15 drive.

The farm is called "Site Ostréicole Fort Royer" and the website is :
http://fort-royer-oleron.fr/suivez-le-guide/visite-commentee-sur-lostreiculture/

The visit is best done at low tide and for this, it would be better to call ahead and enquire about the visit, or ask the local Tourist Office. If it's high tide, it would be impossible to walk out to the oyster bed. 

Of course at low tide, you would have to wade out in the mud or sludge to get to the oysters. Wellington boots will be provided and the walk and visit could take you about 3 hours. The guided tour is in French, but I believe you could ask for an audio-guide in English.

The farmers are very passionate about oyster farming and this is a traditional method of farming the oysters. The history, the evolution and how they farm the oysters is fascinating, not to mention the hard work involved in bringing the oyster to our dining table.

At the end of the walk, you could opt to have an oyster tasting. I find the oysters here to be quite salty and perhaps as it was June, the oysters are supposedly in breeding mode and therefore do not have the usual taste.

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