Forêt Domaniale de Saint-Trojan, State forest in the southwest of Île d'Oléron, France
The Forêt Domaniale de Saint-Trojan is a state-owned forest on the southwest side of Île d'Oléron, spread across three municipalities including Saint-Trojan-les-Bains, Le Grand-Village-Plage, and Dolus d'Oléron. The landscape shifts from open beach to moving dunes, then into dense stands of maritime pine and holm oak.
During the Middle Ages, much of the island had been cleared for farmland, but shifting sand dunes then threatened villages and fields. From the 16th century onward, trees, heather, and broom were planted to hold the sand in place and protect the land.
The Forêt Domaniale de Saint-Trojan is a familiar space for people on Île d'Oléron, used year-round by locals and visitors alike. Walkers, runners, and cyclists share the marked paths, and in some sections the air carries the scent of heather and thyme.
The forest is open year-round, and a network of marked trails for walking and cycling makes it easy to find your way around. A parking area near the Vert-Bois beach is a common starting point for visitors arriving by car.
Beneath some of the sand dunes lie the remains of villages that were buried by shifting sands over the centuries. Planting oyat, a beach grass with long roots, was one of the key methods used to stabilize the dunes and stop them from advancing further.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
