Aytre, Charente Maritime

Description:

Geography and Transport

Aytre is a small town (12.22km²) situated to the south of La Rochelle on the Atlantic coast of France.  Being only 5km from La Rochelle, means that the town is well placed for transport links via rail, air and road.  La Rochelle has rail links to both regional (TER) and main line (TGV) lines, and you can connect with Paris (Montparnasse) from here in just over 3 hours.  The airport offers flights to a number of UK locations with a variety of different budget airlines.  Aytre is close to the N137 (La Rochelle-Rochefort) and the N11 (Niort and East).
See also:  La Rochelle, Chatelaillon Plage

Climate

The maritime climate here helps fend-off extreme heat in summer, and extreme cold in the winter.  Average summer temperatures are between 22C to 25C (14C to 17C night), and that drops to 9C to 10C in winter (4C to 5C night).  Wettest months here are October and November (62-65mm) and the driest June and August with 24mm and 29mm respectively.  Early autumn can be warm at an average 22C (14C), but a touch wetter (45mm).  Aytre is within an area that receives over 2000 hours of sunshine per year.

Tourism

Aytre is renowned for its long flat sandy beach, excellent for families and small children.  This is the second largest town in the La Rochelle area, and fifth largest in the department, and famously home to ALSTOM, builders of the high speed train (TGV).  The manufacturing works was originally built by the Americans during World War 1, to build rolling stock, and now ALSTOM is a global company.  Historically, the economy was built on harvesting salt, fishing and agriculture, but with the increase in commerce and manufacturing, agriculture has diminished. 

The nearby Chateau de Buzay at La Jarne (4km) is an 18^th century neo-classical structure, in a parkland setting, open to the public.  Every year in June, the town hosts an Ecological Fair (market), with more than 120 exhibitors/sellers of bio-goods, conferences and childrens attractions.

Economy

Aytre is part of the La Rochelle economic zone which has an unemployment rate of 9.8%, compared against the regional rate of 8.6% and the national rate of 9.1% (INSEE 2006). 

Facilities

Aytre has most amenities, including supermarkets, restaurants, cafes and a sports centre.   Being a seaside town it doesn't have a swimming pool, but one can be found in nearby La Rochelle (5km)

Education

The town has a 3 state nurseries, 3 primary, 2 secondary school and for college (Lycee) La Rochelle approximately 5km.

Key Stats

Most of the properties in Aytre are main residences 90.1%, and 6.2% of properties are classed as second homes.  There are more people aged 60 or over than the national average (24.5% vs 21.3%), and the number of retired people is also higher (22.2% vs 18.2%).  21.9% of the local population are under 19 years of age.  There are fewer males than females resident here (47.8% vs 52.2%).

Key Facilities and Services: