Saint-Martin-de-Ré is the historical capital of the Île de Ré, a village with an incomparable maritime charm, considered as one of the most beautiful in France.
The sunset on the port is unforgettable. The lively quays, lined with restaurants, where fishermen and yachtsmen mix in a good mood, the sinuous lanes and alleys adorned with hollyhocks, the shops selling clothes and souvenirs... everything here invites you to relax and enjoy.
Organized around its port and protected by its fortified ramparts, The village dates back to the Middle Ages (10th century), and conceals many heritage treasures: the half-timbered house of La Vinaterie, the Clerjotte Hotel, the Observatory Bell Tower which offers a unique panorama...
Saint-Martin-de-Ré has been listed, in July 2008, as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Activities In Saint-Martin and the Ile de RéGastronomy in Saint-Martin-de-RéIn 1622, the naval battle of Saint-Martin-de-Ré pitted the royal fleet of Louis XIV, commanded by the Duke Charles de Guise, against the Protestant fleet of La Rochelle.
In 1627, the Duke of Buckingham disembarked on the island with 5,000 English soldiers and 100 cavalry men to support the French Protestants and push La Rochelle to take up arms. The siege of Saint Martin was laid on July 10th. The fort of Saint-Martin, headed by the Comte de Toiras, resisted, thanks to a convoy of 35 ships carrying supplies that entered the port on October 16th. A special corps of 3,000 men was formed by Richelieu and landed on the island by surprise. The siege was lifted and the English, leaving a thousand dead on the ground, escaped in their fleet.
In 1681, work began on the urban enclosure and the citadel designed by Vauban.
The Hotel de Clerjotte was built around 1470 - 1480 by Louis Clergeat, receiver of the Ile de Ré. The main building, flanked by a tower with a spiral staircase and a flamboyant Gothic doorway, dates from this period. At the end of the 16th century and the beginning of the 17th, the medieval architecture was embellished with two wings inspired by the late Renaissance. In 1684, Jean Gabaret, lieutenant general of the naval armies of King Louis XIV became the owner.
At the end of the 17th century, under the direction of Vauban, the construction of the citadel and the fortified city wall began. In 1690, the Hotel de Clerjotte was requisitioned from the Gabaret to serve as the arsenal for the new stronghold that Saint-Martin-de-Ré had become. A military arsenal until the 20th century, classified as a historical monument in 1929, the Hotel de Clerjotte was given to the town in the 1950s, which converted it into a municipal museum.
E. COGNACQ MUSEUM WEBSITE
Stylish and authentic luxury estate in the Île de Ré, France. La Gabaret is the expression of a commitment to quality, a perfect place to create and share values.
