Sainte Marie de Re, Ile de Re, Charente Maritime

Description:

Geography and Transport

Sainte Marie de Re is a small town on the south side of Ile de Re, on the D201 (The commune covers an area of 9.84km².) Access to the island is via the 3km toll bridge from La Rochelle (cost from 9 euro to 16.50 return).  Ile de Re can still be reached by boat, with the company Inter-Iles from the old port in La Rochelle, and also from a new facility (2008) at La Tranche Sur Mer (Vendee).  Timetables can vary in both days and times of travel depending on the season.  The D735 is the main road running through the island.  From La Rochelle there are motorways towards Niort (N11) and Rochefort (N137).  There is no rail link from the island, but La Rochelle does provide access to both regional rail (TER) and the TGV, which links with Paris (Montparnasse) in a shade over 3 hours.  The nearest airport is La Rochelle, and this offers flights to a variety of UK destinations with the major budget carriers.
See also:  Rivedoux Plage, La Flotte-en-Re, Le Bois Plage-en-Re

Climate

The climate here is mild courtesy of the position of the town on the Atlantic coast.  This has the effect of keeping summer temperatures warm (but not excessively hot) whilst keeping winters mild.  Average summer temperatures are between 22C and 24C (14C to 17C night), and in winter this drops to 9C to 10C (4C to 5C night).  Spring and Autumn can be warm with May averaging 19C (12C), and September 22C (14C).  Wettest months are Oct and Nov with 65mm and 62mm respectively, and the driest months are June and Aug with 24mm and 29mm respectively.  This part of Charente Maritime receives over 2000 hours of sunshine per year.

Tourism

The 12^th century l'Eglise de Sainte Marie de Re is the parish church, and this was continually updated, repaired and fortified throughout the wars of religion, as a place of refuge and defence for the townsfolk.  The town also has an Eco-museum, La Maison du Magayant, where educational visits are available covering the sea, countryside, and in particular Fish-Locks, a medieval method of catching fish in bulk at ebb-tide.  The museum is engaged in preserving a fish lock at Sainte Marie.   There are beaches here which are popular for surfing and water sports, and in May the town holds a Surf and Skate competition over 4 days. 

Facilities

There are many sports and leisure facilities and clubs here, including martial arts, football, hip hop, horse riding and yoga.  A mediathique centre was opened in 2006, and this incorporates library facilities and internet access.

Economy

The economy here is historically based on agriculture, but now the majority of businesses there are engaged in either construction or commerce.    The town 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). 

Education

The town has both a nursery and primary school, but the nearest secondary school is at St Martin de Re (8km).  College (lycee) options are at La Rochelle.

Keys Stats

54.9% of properties here are classed as second homes.  There are more people aged 60 or over than the national average (27% vs 21.3%), and the number of retired people is also higher (23.8% vs 18.2%).  23% of the local population are under 19 years of age.  There are fewer males than females resident here (48.2% vs 51.8%).  Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit the Ile de Re during peak times, but the population of the whole island is normally around 16,500.

Attractions and places to visit on Ile de Re

Key Facilities and Services: