Sainte-Marie-de-Ré (, "St Mary of Ré") is a commune in the western French department of

Charente-Maritime Charente-Maritime (; Poitevin-Saintongeais: ''Chérente-Marine''; ) is a Departments of France, department in the French Regions of France, region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, on the country's west coast. Named after the river Charente (river), Charen ...

Geography

Sainte-Marie-de-Ré is a small village, on the southern coast of the

Île de Ré Île de Ré (; variously spelled Rhé or Rhéa; Poitevin dialect, Poitevin: ''ile de Rét''; , ) is an island off the Atlantic coast of France near La Rochelle, Charente-Maritime, on the northern side of the Pertuis d'Antioche strait. Its high ...

, facing the Île d'Oléron. The coastal part is bordered by beaches and small cliffs.

History

Sainte-Marie (as a word) was first used as a designation for a Parish Church in the late 12th century. The village centered on grape farming for over a millennium and maintains a strong rural identity. The commune was officially begun in 1790.

Population

* Inhabitants of Sainte-Marie-de-Ré: ''Maritais''. * Inhabitants of La Noue: ''Nouais''.

Economy

* Agriculture: grape vineyards, asparagus, potatoes. * Tourism. *

Thalassotherapy Thalassotherapy (from the Greek word ''thalassa'', meaning "sea") is the use of seawater as a form of therapy. Note: Thalasso therapy is a sub-definition under the listing for Thalasso. It also includes the systematic use of sea products and shor ...

: The thalassotherapy center on the waterfront of the south-eastern edge of Sainte-Marie was expanded in 2004. * Computer information technology.

Sights

Religious sites

* The Parish church, Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption at Sainte-Marie de Ré whose existence was first recorded in the late 12th century. In 1467 the church was fortified and a moat surrounding the church was dug. * The Saint Sauveur Chapel at La Noue.

Civil sites

* A Monument to the Dead. * A monument by sculptor Mélanie Quentin called "La Connaissance" which was installed in 2006. * The Magayant house, a fishing museum.

International relations

The commune is twinned with: * Pierrefort

References

External links

* Communes of Charente-Maritime Île de Ré Charente-Maritime communes articles needing translation from French Wikipedia Populated coastal places in France {{CharenteMaritime-geo-stub