New outings and original activities to try during the May bank holidays in the Royan region

"Sud Ouest" has partnered with the Destination Royan Atlantique Community Tourist Office to select a few new things and non-exhaustive ideas to experience in the region in May.

The long weekends of May are an opportunity to discover new places or trends before the summer season. "Sud Ouest" has partnered with the Community Tourism Office to provide some ideas for tourists, as well as year-round residents, to have fun, relax, and enjoy themselves in the area. Take your pick.

Camille Lambert is passionate about his surroundings. From this passion, he created "Balades Océanes," an immersion into the Marennes-Oléron basin through its landscapes, history, and traditions. Departing from an oyster hut in La Tremblade, he serves as a guide to explore, in a small group, a harmonious territory, sharing knowledge about the fauna, flora, and local know-how. The icing on the cake is that the walk ends with an oyster tasting.

Prices: €17 for children, €35 for adults. Departure from Boulevard Roger-Letélié in La Tremblade ( lesbaladesoceanes.com ).

Located in a picturesque alleyway in Mornac-sur-Seudre, the discreet entrance to Les Eaux Calmes leads to a peaceful marshland on the banks of the Seudre River. Here, the setting invites relaxation with a choice of tables placed by the clearings or hidden among the vegetation. This restaurant showcases local produce, offering primarily seafood specialties, but also meat and vegetarian dishes. In case of unpredictable weather, an indoor dining area is also available.

Price: from €20 at 1, chemin des Varaignes in Mornac-sur-Seudre ( www.leseauxcalmes.com ).

Fishing is all the rage. Proof of this is the success of the last Royan Fishing Show, which attracted 8,000 visitors. Canalo is capitalizing on this enthusiasm by offering an original sea trip aboard a pedal kayak. Guillaume, a fishing guide and instructor, will show you the best spots along the Seudre estuary or in Bonne Anse Bay. The pedal kayaks, stable, comfortable, and easy to handle, allow you to navigate silently through nature and observe wildlife and heritage from a unique perspective. Ideal for learning new fishing techniques.

Prices: €30 for adults and €25 for children. Meet at the dry port car park in La Tremblade or on the Bonne Anse esplanade in La Palmyre ( canalo.fr ).

The flour mill's flea market workshop, located in Mortagne-sur-Gironde, has been bringing together second-hand dealers and artisans since 2016 in a 400-square-meter space in the heart of a former 19th ^- century industrial site. This former steam mill has retained its original character while inviting visitors to rediscover old objects. Monthly flea markets are also organized there, allowing everyone to unearth treasures. While strolling among the stands, visitors can meet passionate artisans and second-hand dealers ( atelierbrocantedelaminoterie.com ).

The Maison des Douanes in Saint-Palais-sur-Mer is dedicating an exhibition to the American photographer, immersing visitors in a world of travel and adventure. On this occasion, and for the first time, visitors will discover a chapter of Vivian Maier's life that had previously been left in the shadows. It concerns the world tour she undertook for nearly six months in 1959, which took her from Chicago to Florida, Venezuela, the Philippines, China, Tibet, Malaysia, Egypt, Italy, and ended in France. From this world tour, she brought back thousands of previously unseen images.

Price: €2. Meet at 45, rue de l'Océan ( agglo-royan.fr/maison-des-douanes ).

Samantha Petit and Alexis Hillairet, French paddleboard champion and world snow funboard champion, are offering an introduction to Wing Skate in Saint-Georges-de-Didonne. This new sport, held at the Latitude club on Vallières beach, combines skateboarding and wing foil sailing. Accessible to all, it allows you to practice maneuvers like jibing and 360 degrees, even in light winds ( latitude-char.com ).