Ile de Ré

See also: D

The Ile de Ré , known as D white the (in Poitevin-saintongeais Rét ), is a French coastal island located in the Atlantic Ocean opposite La Rochelle, in the department of the Charente-Maritime, separated from the continent in north by the Breton Pertuis and from the island of Oléron in the south by the Pertuis of Antioche.

Etymology

The assumptions on the origin of the name “D” are rich and various, sometimes whimsical. At the fifth century, an anonymity (called the Anonymous of Ravenne) is the first to mention the Ile de Ré “ Ratis ” in its famous Cosmographie. Certain people think that there is an etymological bond between Ré and the Egyptian god Re, or between Ré and Rhéa (character of the Greek Mythologie), etc…

Geography

It is located on the western frontage of France, with the right in the middle of the bank Atlantique, off the coasts of the Charente-Maritime and in the south of the the Vendée, vis-a-vis the port of Pallice, not far from La Rochelle. The island of D, is a length of approximately 26 km and of a width varying from 70 m to 5 km, and almost 100 km of coasts of which the half of Plage S especially on the south-western coast. Its surface is approximately 85 km ². Its relief, very flat does not exceed the 20 Mr. Île has an isthmus, Martray.

At its end is Rivedoux-Beach, point of Sablanceaux , the island is connected to the continent Repented the Pallice by a bridge three kilometers, inaugurated in 1988. The very arched shape of the bridge in its central part, imposed by the National marine, 30 m above water, makes it possible to let pass the warships.

coasts of the Ile de Ré, (see the satellite image in top on the right or the chart opposite)

To trust of Ars is a kind of small bay located at the west of the Island.

See also: To trust of Ars

With low tide, one discovers many oyster beds.

  • the southern part , of is in west:

The southern part is reinforced with a dam after Couarde, to Saint-Clement-of-Whales, except at the places where large dunes protect the grounds (point of Oil cake, Combe with Water), the Tempêtes of west being likely to invade the grounds and to divide the island in two (Martray) .

With low Marée one discovers many vestiges of locks to fish (of which some were restored, Holy-Marie-of-D) .

maritime Environment

  • In the east :

    • the Port of Pallice
    • La Rochelle, the port of Tiny the

  • In the west :

    • the Atlantic Ocean

Communes

The Ile de Ré is made of ten communes: Door-in-D, Saint-Clement-of-Whales, Ars-in-D, Loix, the Couarde-on-Sea, Wood-Beach-in-D, Saint-Martin-of-D, Holy-Marie-of-D, the Fleet and Rivedoux-Beach. The borough more populated is the Fleet (2 737 hab.) - although it is not the administrative capital, which is Saint Martin's day - and less populated is Loix (619 hab.). Small old hamlets currently form villages (Wood and Saint-Clement); but of other small hamlets are always independent geographically, but are attached administratively to the villages, like Martray (Ars-in-D), or the Valley (Holy-Marie-of-D).

Climate

The Ile de Ré with the chance to benefit from a rather soft climate, thanks in particular to its situation and the Gulf Stream. The Island is very sunny (2 100 hours per annum), after the South-eastern and the Corsica . Contrary, the rains are rather frequent in Hiver and Automne. These characteristics are due to the fact that the relief is almost non-existent (culminating point: 20 Mr.) In summer, heat is moderated by the presence of the sea. In addition, the island is sometimes called the “Atlantic Midi” thanks to also with fauna and the flora. In winter, the temperature is rather soft, therefore the rare snowfalls.

However, there were some important weather facts which marked out the history of D: In 1606, the island is taken by one terrible winter, about the chroniclers speak “about the passage of Loix and to trust of Ars are so cold that one passes freely on the ice”. Similar events arrive in 1890 and 1891.

Here some records of Temperature since 1980:

  • the coldest Temperature in winter: - 11° C (January 16th 1985)
  • the softest Temperature in winter: 19,5° C (January 19th 1989)
  • the hottest Temperature in summer: 40,9° C (August 4th 2003)
  • the freshest Temperature in summer: 7° C (August 27th 1985)

Ideally been windy and exposed to the Atlantic Swell, the island proposes many places for the practice of the Surf and the Planche to veil.

Seisms

The island knew Séisme S during its history (it also animated!), and of the legends allot the creation of the island by terrible earthquakes ( to see low).

See also: Seisms on the Ile de Ré

Demography

The human presence on the island goes back to several tens of thousands of years, as a Silex attests some this time. At the beginning of the the Middle Ages, Ré is inhabited very little, but the centuries which follow see the repopulation of the island. With XVIIe and XVIIIe centuries, nearly 17.000 hearts live in Ré, almost as much as currently! The peak is reached in 1831 with 17.976 inhabitants. This figure tumbles down during the XXe century, then goes up since construction bridge. The inhabitants of the Ile de Ré will be 23.500 in 2020 according to estimates.

Among the interesting statistics, we can note that 20% of rhétais have less than 25 years. The density is of 193 habitants/km, and the increase in population is important (18%). Out-season, the island is populated of approximately 15  000 inhabitants, quantifies multiplied by ten in summer season.

Gentilé

  • Inhabitants of the Ile de Ré : Rétais (rhétas in local patois, and even sometimes rét' h' board)

History

Antiquity

At the origin formed by three islands (can be four) , two small, one in north (Isle de Loix: village of Loix) , one in the west (Isle d' Ars: villages of Ars, Saint-Clement-of-Whales and Doors) , attached to largest and nearest to the continent (Isle de Ré: villages of Rivedoux-Beach, Holy-Marie-of-D, the Fleet, Saint-Martin-of-D, the Wood-Beach and Couarde-on-Sea) .

Certain historians, following Doctor Kemmerer, estimate that the Ile de Ré was attached to the continent at the time Roman. Indeed, whereas many vestiges of this presence are found, and before of the Celts, no document of the Roman epoch evokes it. Ptolémée, Egyptian geographer, speaks about a headland, and not about an island, at this place. The separation of the continent would be then perhaps the work of one of the many earthquakes of this area ( to see low).

The Middle Ages

As we previously said, a Greek cosmography of the 7th century names the island under the name of Ratis , it is named thereafter Insula Réa , Île of Rhé .

In 848, the island is plundered by the chief Viking Hasting.

At the 12th century, the Cistercian abbey Our-Lady-of-D is founded under the aegis of Mauléon, lords of the Fleet. It will dominate soon the major part of the island, in spite of many plunderings. At the time of the Anglo-French conflict of 1242, Henri III of England attracts Rétais in its camp in their promising the statute of sworn commune. It built a fortress there, then returns the island to Louis IX of France by the treaty of April 1243. In XVe century appears the first vines.

Modern times

In February 1625, the Protestant Soubise seizes the island. A few months later, the duke of Own way organizes an unloading in order to take again the island, supported by the fleets Dutchwoman and English. The fort of Prée is built in 1626 (the Fleet).

In 1627, during the seat that Louis XIII and Richelieu with the Huguenot S made undergo rochelais, 5000 soldiers and 100 riders English, carried out by the duke of Buckingham, invade the island and besiege Saint Martin for five months (from July to November). Toiras governor of the island succeeds in holding jusqu `on arrival of a special body of 3000 men formed by Richelieu which unloads by surprised on the island. The seat is raised, the English leave thousand dead on the ground and escape thanks to their fleet. September 18th, 1628, Buckingham is presented again in front of Saint Martin's day, but it is grapeshot and cannonaded and does not try the unloading.

In 1674, Vauban makes build three Redoute S, Door-in-D, Martray (Ars-in-D) and Rivedoux-Beach, then in 1681 it strengthens Saint Martin. On July 15th and 16th 1696, the English fleet bombards Saint-Martin-of-D. August 23rd 1743, Mrs. de Tencin receives the baronnie of Saint Martin's day of Isle de Ré of the skins of Charles-Joseph of Fresnay. In 1745, she delegates her strongholds of Grenetière to Penaud of the Marshes for 500 pounds of annual rent.

XIXe and XXe centuries

The Headlight of the whales, built in 1853, and high, (beside the Tower of the whales of Vauban time, 1682) , 57 meters remains one of the notable monuments of the island, located at its western end, on the commune of Saint-Clement-of-Whales. In 1873, the citadel of Saint-Martin-of-D is used as stage (Bagne of the Ile de Ré) for condemned to the bagne, in particular towards the New Caledonia then towards the Guyana of 1897 with 1938.

The island is occupied by the German troops about the year 1940; the (Todt Organization) builds close to the many beaches Blockhaus (of which some were converted into dwelling houses) and give in function the Small train of the Ile de Ré. Included/understood in the “Pocket of the La Rochelle”, the island is released only after the armistice of the May 8th 1945. In addition, the turning of certain scenes of the film the longest day on the southern beach of Rivedoux-Beach and the Conche of the whales to the Portes took place in 1961.

The island is connected to the continent by a bridge builds in 1988; until this date, the link was made by vat.

Political administration/

Administratively, the island is divided into two cantons of the Arrondissement of the La Rochelle: Canton of Saint-Martin-of-D and Canton of Ars-in-D. It is attached to the department of the Charente-Maritime, in the area Poitou-Charentes, in France.

As we previously stated, among the ten communes of the island, the administrative “capital” (which is also the historical and cultural capital) is Saint-Martin-of-D, although it is not the most populated city. There are no prefecture or sub-prefectures on the island.

Economy

The economic resources of the island are primarily tourist, maritime (ostreiculture and pleasure) and agricultural (vines, market gardenings).

Fresh shells and fish are still sold by some fishermen on the quays of Saint-Martin-of-D or Rivedoux-Beach, the majority of the fishing vessels being now moored in the deep water basin (solving the problem of the Marée S) of the fishing port of Chief of Baie/La Pallice.

The Ostréiculture is developed mainly on the northern coast where the ports of the island are installed (Rivedoux-Beach, Fleet-in-D, Saint-Martin-of-D, Loix) but also on the southern part of Ars-in-D. In 2007, in the Breton sluice, ostreiculture rétaise is directed towards a new method of culture, that out of deep water die.

In the western part of the island, (between Loix, Ars, Saint-Clement-of-Whales and Door-in-D), one discovers 1500 hectares of marsh and saline Marais, lands of welcome of thousands of migratory birds and grounds of culture for the Saunier S which collect salt on 350 hectares of Saliculture. Inside the island, one cultivates market-gardening products (potatoes, asparaguses) and the vine on 650 ha (Charente-native Local wine, Pineau and cognac). The markets, daily newspapers the summer in each village, have a great choice and allow a direct contact with the producers.

Though the estivants “are somewhat selected” by a cost of toll of the relatively important bridge (16,50 € for a truck of mid-June at mid-September and 9 € except season in 2006 whose one écotaxe of 3,05 €, the bridge should be free in 2012), it is a tourist destination, with a good sunning and a refreshing wind on great sand beaches (50 km of beach on the island) , which is accessible for the families with children for the hottest period of the year.

The few two hundred and thousand residents at this period are divided in the many camp-sites, hotels, seasonal hirings, rooms of hosts and second home. For reasons of safeguarding of the environment and ecology, the wild camp-site or on private piece is prohibited. The motor homes must spend the night on reserved spaces where in the camp-sites.

The motor vehicle traffic, from April at the end of September, is dense (mainly the weekend at the periods of arrival and starting).

The use of the bicycle is strongly privileged there: 100 kilometers of cycle tracks furrow the island between salt-water pine forests, vines, marshes or natural reserves (of new tracks are in realization, for spring 2008, more safety). The maritime life on the Island before was little developed (except exports of salt and wines) and the island separated clearly in two parts: the west, poorer, dedicated to the saline marshes exploited by salt makers who were almost never owners, and, richer and is dedicated to the vine. Many windmills, whose several turns are still visible, and three or four mills with tide, including one with Loix and another with Rivedoux-Beach, treated imported cereals of the continent.

Tourism

Today, very tourist, the Ile de Ré became a expensive vacation resort and mode: the square meter of ground is negotiated there (be 2005) with approximately 1000 €. This dizzying increase of the prices made register with the wealth tax people who had inherited a house with a piece of ground. The enormous taxes which result from it with each succession often oblige the heirs to sell and one witnesses a renewal of the population where the autochtones are less and less numerous. One to hardly believe, that enters the two wars, was there still a population which sought to leave the island and placed signs hopelessly “to sell” on houses which did not interest anybody.

Safeguarding of the island

Fauna and flora

It is in the north of the island, that one finds the natural reserve of Lilleau-of-Niges. Tens of thousands of migratory birds forward there each year (barnacles and ducks in winter, gorgebleues and terns pierregarins in spring) but also tadornes, brushes…

A few kilometres from there, the national forests of Case-Shirt, of Lizay, Combe-with-The water and Wood Henri IV broadsides of beaches bordered of dunes reveal a typical flora of the dune mediums (linaires, eyelets of the beaches). The maritime pines and the holm oaks shelter there, in underwood, of the plants characteristic of the maquis and the garrigues of the Mediterranean South.

Located a little at the variation in the island, with Couarde, Loix and Ars in D, the salt-water marshes rétais hide also a specific flora of the marshes: salicorne, statis, mustard.

Art and Culture

The culture rhétaise and rich person and characteristic. The ass in breeches is one of the symbols of the Ile de Ré. This behavior was used so that it is not piqué by the mosquitos in the marshes. From a linguistic point of view, the Vendean patois dominates the island traditionally, except with Sainte-Marie where the patois aunisien was used.

Legends

The legends are omnipresent in the folklore rhétais.

A legend tells that the Création of the Ile de Ré would come from terrible Séisme S having absorbed the Roman city of Antioche, and that the only surviving ones of these events would be Ré and Oléron. Rhétais say that the ruins of the mythical city would be visible only per good weather. It is only one legend, but, in 1809, a boat was failed on the point of Chanchardon, and the captain of the ship sees “ the pavements of the calcareous form which appear to him to be the remainders of a Roman construction ”. Moreover, the geographer Elisee Reclus locates in his large famous universal Géographie , the town of Antioche to height of Chanchardon. But, according to the saying rhétais, When Antioche reappears, Ré will disappear …

Another legend (not agreeing much with the first!), we informs that navigators of the time of the ancient Egypt, sent by Ramsês II would have liked to make the round the world tour and would have been failed by chance Martray (close to the current town of Ars) and there would have built a small pyramid.

Small train

At the end of the XIXe century France and Europe were modernized and much trains appeared. That of the island was imagined starting from 1877 to transport goods and the production of wine; the line was then opened to the travellers, and was inaugurated officially in 1898. It connected all the communes, but inevitably did not pass in the center villages, the station of Loix was with the place says “Feneau”, to 4 km of the village. Called the " tortillard" , tractor drawn by engines Corpet-Louvet on metric gauge track, it was slow, always late, squeaked and ran off the line sometimes.

It was at the time very popular, and remained one of the symbols of the island. But in 1934, of the taxis and buses arrived on Ré and the following year, the small train bade its farewell with rhétais… During the Second world war the occupying army, the Organization Todt revived it. After war, the helping fuel shortage, it survived, then was transformed into Autorail but its existence was transitory and the dismounted rail network. A great part current cycle tracks print the layout of the ways.

Inheritance and monuments

The Ile de Ré has many notable historic buildings. Tourist, the Headlight of the Whales, was built in 1853, with the western point of the Island. Its height is of 57 m, and its range of 39 km. An older headlight, less higher, located beside the large headlight, was built at the time of Vauban (1682). The Island has other monuments of Vauban, of which the enclosure of Saint-Martin-of-D - built to protect itself from the English - a fort, called Fort of Prée, going back to 1625, and two Redoute S with Rivedoux-Beach and Ars-in-D.

In Saint Martin's day, the hotel of Clerjotte, built in XVe century, remains one of the most remarkable monuments of the city, which is composed much the beautiful ones and hurdy-gurdies houses. Lastly, the capital of the Ile de Ré has an explosives magazine of the XVIIIe century.

Among the religious monuments, we can quote the Saint-Etienne church of Ars-in-D, with a tower which formerly was used as Amer for the fishermen, dating from XVe century. The gate, as for him, is former to the remainder. We can also quote the Saint Martin's day church of Saint-Martin-of-D, of Gothic style. It was devastated during the wars of religion then partially rebuilt later. The church of Sainte-Marie preserved its high tower of XVe century. Lastly, close to the Fleet draws up the majestic ruins of the abbey Our-Lady-of-D, known as of the châteliers, built in XIIe century (Ordre cistercian). The other churches and vaults of D for the majority are built in a style typically rhétais. It is necessary to note the beautiful gate of the church of the Fleet.

The streets and the houses, charming and picturesque, particularly to the Fleet, contribute to the traditional face of the Ile de Ré.

The museum of the House of the Shallow, with the Fleet, reveals the pages of the inheritance rétais through its exposures (models of boats, reconstitutions, costumes).

Sport

The sports on the Ile de Ré are numerous, but the Surf and its derivatives dominate (Windsurf, etc…) thanks to its geographical condition. The island has several sites of surfing, of which Grignon, Grenettes, the Lizay and the small Nozzle. Other maritime sports, like the Board with veil, are proposed.

Saint Martin's day, principal borough, has a club of Football.

The town of Wood-Beach-D acceuille D Hand Ball Club, the largest club of the island of many bachelors.

Press

The Ile de Ré has its own newspaper, the weekly magazine the Headlight of D , created in 1949 with a pulling of 15.000 specimens (February 2007).

Gallery

The images presented are classified by traversing the Ile de Ré of is in west.
To click on a label to increase it
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