Saint-Martin-of-D

Geography

Saint-Martin-of-D is a village strengthened by Vauban located on the Northern coast of the Ile de Ré. It is one of the ports, with the wet dock, most important of the island (with Ars-in-D) . The east coast bordered of small cliffs and rollers with a small artificial beach.

Economy

The economy of the commune is based on agriculture, the water sport, fishing and tourism. A shipyard " Latitude 46" manufacture the famous sailing ships " Tofinou". Fishing and ostreiculture are omnipresent on this commune.

the Headlight of D is a newspaper not intended to guide the ships but rather to clarify the spirits. This newspaper of information, created in 1949, is read each week by Rétais, but also by many subscribers not rétais. Create by a printer installed since its origin on the wearing of Saint-Martin-of-D, this small weekly newspaper, with success ever contradicted, tells by the menu the joys and worries, sometimes clochemerlesque, of the white island.

History

In 1627, the duke of Buckingham unloads 5 000 soldiers and 100 riders, to support the French Protestants and to push La Rochelle with the catch of weapons. The seat is put the July 10th. Strong the Saint Martin's day, with at its head the count de Toiras, resists, in particular thanks to a convoy of vivres of 35 boats which between the October 16th. A special body of 3 000 men is trained by Richelieu and unloads by surprised on the island, ordered by the marshal of Schomberg. The seat is raised, the English leaving thousand died on the ground and escaping thanks to their fleet. The 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 1681 begins work of the urban enclosure and the citadel wanted by Vauban. In 1696, July 15th and 16th, Saint-Martin-of-D is bombarded by the fleet anglo-Dutchwoman. During the 18th century, the port is very active with the trade of salt, the wine and brandies.

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 to 1938.

Administration

List of the successive mayors :

Demography

Famous characters

Ernest Cognacq (1839-1928), born with Saint-Martin-of-D, founder of the Parisian department stores Samaritaine; generous giver, it offers to his birthplace the collections of Rene-Theodore Phelippot for the creation of the museum which bears its name.
Nicolas Baudin, (1754-1803), born with Saint-Martin-of-D, was a sailor, captain and explorer. As from 1800, the Directory entrusts two vessels to him: the Geographer and the Naturalist with whom, as from 1800, it directs several scientific exhibitions for the discovery of the News-Holland (Australia).
Roland Boisselier, (1898-1924), born with the La Rochelle, was chaplain with the citadel of Saint Martin's day and the Bagne of Guyana. Stretcher-bearer during the First World War, in the the Vosges, it left the many testimonys written on the life with the face.
Alfred Dreyfus, Seznec or Henri Charrière (alias Butterfly) passed by the citadel of Saint Martin's day before embarking for the Bagne of Guyana.

Tourist monuments and places

the Citadel and ramparts of Saint-Martin-of-D: member of the Network of the major sites of Vauban. Saint-Martin-of-D at summer strengthened by Vauban, following the seat of the La Rochelle, at the 17th century to protect La Rochelle and Rochefort from the English invasions. The citadel served of many years as gathering place for the convicts who left for the bagnes the New Caledonia and as the Guyana. It was then transformed into penitentiary, central Maison always in activity, (more than 400 prisoners) . The visit of the ramparts west coast of the city and on all the sea front is possible with:

the door of the Fleet currently carries Thoiras (in the east) .
the door of Couarde currently carries of Campani (in the west) .

the fortified town Vauban of Saint-Martin-of-D is currently candidate with the inscription with the World heritage of UNESCO within the framework of the Réseau of the Major Sites of Vauban (file in the course of instruction, answer in June 2008). This candidature is constant at the local level by Star of Vauban, an association chaired by the actor Charles Berling.

the Hotel of Clerjotte and the Museum Ernest Cognacq: It is an inheritance of the Ile de Ré, property of the commune of Saint-Martin-of-D and classified Historic building (1929). It was built at the end of XVe century then altered in XVIe and the beginning of XVIIe. Restored in 1954, it is currently in reorganization by the addition of a new wing of modern architecture. It shelters the Museum of the Ile de Ré, the Museum Ernest Cognacq. The new inaugurated modern wing on September 23rd, 2006, presents until September 30th, 2007, an temporary exhibition on the Bagnes: “Route of a Utopia”. the Hotel of Clerjotte should be restored to present the collections Ernest Cognacq into 2007/2008. This new wing was designed and realized by the architect Christian Menu, who has in addition charges with it the refitting with the old Hotel and the future museography of the permanent collections.

the Saint Martin's day Church is a strengthened church whose visit of the bell-tower, one from the two points of view impossible to circumvent, (on Saint-Martin-of-D and all the central part of the island) , with the Phare of the whales is possible.

the Native house of Ernest Cognacq is vis-a-vis the Church.
the House of Vinatrie and many masonries of the city (Western district of the Church) .
the Pharmacy of the Hospital
the Port consists of two basins, one out of waters running (in the east) , the other " basin with flots" closed by a lock (in the west) , isolated one from the other by a small island. Formerly very active commercial port (wines, salt) , today, its principal use is the pleasure and some fishermen still use it and sell the product of their fishing on the quays.

Gallery

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