Donkeys in knickers, the stars of the Île-de-Ré!
The donkeys in their breeches are the mascots of theIle de Ré. It has to be said that these friendly animals have a special bond with the people of Rétais, especially before the era of mechanized farming. We tell you everything you need to know to become an expert on the donkeys of theIle de Ré, not forgetting the most important thing: where and how to meet them!
The Île-de-Ré donkeys in knickerbockers, an enduring story
The donkeys ofÎle-de-Ré were once used for a number of agricultural tasks. In particular, they were used by farmers to collect kelp (a mixture of seaweed used as fertilizer). They were also the workmates of salt workers and wine growers, and proved a great help in transporting their harvests.
However, small animals were causing major problems for the donkeys as they went about their daily work. Mosquitoes and ticks made life difficult for the donkeys, causing inflammation and even septicemia. Legend has it that a woman had the good idea of using an old shirt of her husband's to cover the donkeys with pants to protect their four legs. This is how theÎle-de-Ré donkeys were born.
Today, farmers have abandoned donkeys in favor of machines, and it was in 1985 that André Léau began breeding donkeys, organizing donkey rides in Saint-Martin de Ré a few years later. Today, it's a successful family affair on the Île-de-Ré.
A donkey ride on the Île-de-Ré
At the Parc de la Barbette, near the port of Saint-Martin-de-Ré, your children (or you) can enjoy a ten-minute donkey ride during their camping vacation on the Ile de Ré. For the modest sum of 3€, they'll enjoy a pleasant donkey ride and the chance to pet these admirable Baudets du Poitou.
Always dressed in their pants, which add an undeniable charm , the donkeys in breeches will give your little ones a superb time during their stay by the sea. Accessible from age 3, this is an excellent activity to do after a relaxing day at the beach or a visit to the Baleines lighthouse. Your children may also want to take home a souvenir of their encounter with the donkeys, and there's a store nearby that sells plush toys and other items bearing the likenesses of these Île de Ré celebrities.
Opening hours: daily from 10:30 am to 6:30 pm.
Donkey soap, a 100% local product
Did you know that Régis Léau, son of André Léau, also specializes in donkey milk? He has been supplying the Savonnerie artisanale de Loix with this milk for over 10 years. Rich in trace elements, this milk is renowned for its beneficial effects on the skin. In fact, Cleopatra is said to have regularly bathed in donkey's milk (or so it says in Asterix!). If you'd like to try out the virtues of this product, you'll have to visit l'âne en culotte's boutique in the Parc de la Barbette to find this original and authentic soap. A great way to get under the skin of the Ile de Ré!