Ars-en-Ré

The city center of Ars-en-Ré, the oldest town of the island of Ré, is known for its maze-like stretch of very narrow streets. I'm not exaggerating....they're so narrow, in fact, that the corners of the buildings had to be rounded off so that carts and wagons could pass through. The historic port used to be a stopping point for Dutch and Scandinavian boats unloading salt.

In the main square (once an old cemetery now covered with elm trees), you can find the St-Étienne Church. The black-and-white bell tower served as a reference point for sailors and known for its Romanesque facade. The Gothic presbytery is covered with curved, vaulted ceilings typical of the region.