Islands of France
France is not just a continental hexagon — it's an archipelago scattered across three oceans. Corsica in the Mediterranean is the largest and most famous, but dozens of smaller islands hug the mainland coast, and five overseas
Corsica has been French since 1768 (before that, Genoese). Its identity remains proudly distinct — Corsican is spoken alongside French, and Napoleone di Buonaparte was born in Ajaccio in 1769, one year after the transfer.
Atlantic Islands
Île de Ré
Connected to La Rochelle by a 3 km bridge, Ré is a low-lying island of salt marshes, oyster beds, whitewashed villages with green shutters, and cycle paths. It's the Parisian summer escape — elegant, understated, bicycle-powered. Population: 18,000 (explodes to 100,000+ in summer).
Île d'Oléron
France's second-largest island after Corsica (175 km²), connected to the mainland by a free bridge. Less fashionable than Ré, more familial — vast beaches, pine forests, oyster farms (the Marennes-Oléron basin produces 60% of French oysters).
Belle-Île-en-Mer
Brittany's largest island, 15 km off the Quiberon peninsula. Wild cliffs, hidden beaches, the Aiguilles de Port-Coton (rock needles painted by Monet), and a car-free quietude. Only reachable by ferry — which keeps it special.
Mediterranean Islands
The Îles d'Hyères (Porquerolles, Port-Cros, Île du Levant)
Three islands off the Var coast. Porquerolles has Caribbean-clear water and protected forests — no cars, no high-rises. Port-Cros is a national park — Europe's oldest marine reserve.
Îles de Lérins (near Cannes)
Two islands visible from Cannes' Croisette. Sainte-Marguerite held the Man in the Iron Mask; Saint-Honorat has been home to a monastery since the 5th century (the monks produce wine and liqueur).
Getting to the Islands — Ferry connections, seasons, and practical tips for reaching France's islands — on La Porte.