The Museum Ernest Cognacq is the Municipal Museum of St-Martin-de-Ré. It is named after Ernerst Cognacq, born in St. Martin 2 October 1839, founder of La Samaritaine (large departement store) in Paris.

This museum is located in a beautiful Renaissance building of the fifteenth century: “Hotel Clerjotte”. Temporary exhibitions on various topics, are regularly highlighting the rich collections of the museum tracking the history of ile de Ré. Entertainment, guided tours, lectures, educational activities, workshops for youth are offered throughout the year.

The Living Museum The House of Magayant (peasant fisherman) is located in Sainte-Marie-de-Ré village of the Ile de Re. The Living Museum presents the cultural, biological and environmental foreshore Rétais (part of the discovery coast at low tide). A permanent exhibition lets through videos, models, objects, understand the history of the fish locks and fish on foot. Of educational events, talks, visits and discoveries of the foreshore and of fish locks are offered regularly.

For more information:

Ecomuseum House Magayant

61 courses of Jarrières – La Noue

17740 Sainte-Marie-de-Ré

Tel: 0033 5 46 37 47 50

Website: www.maison du magayant.com

Email: magayant @ orange.fr

The Ecomuseum Marais Salant is along the Fier d’Ars in Loix village of ile de Re. After visiting the permanent exhibition tracing the history of the marshes, a guide will explain around a model of the site, the functioning of salt marsh. Then it will guide you outside the natural site to visit the various pools and discovering the work of the salter. Discovery also fauna and flora of the marshes.

For more information (schedules, fares …………):

Ecomusee Marais Salant

BP 21

17111 Loix en Ré

Tel / Fax: 05 46 29 06 77

website: www.marais-salant.com

Email: ecomusee@marais-salant.com

Donkeys in ile de Re

It is mainly from the 19th century that the donkey was a valuable aid to the inhabitants of the Ile de Re. It was used for the collection of seaweed on the coast, salt marshes or in agricultural work. To protect it from biting insects (flies and mosquitoes) it was dressed in pants or leggings with straps made of old materials with stripes or plaid patterns. Today, donkeys with pants are part of the folklore of the isle de Re. Rides on donkey are organized for children in the Parc de la Barbette in Saint-Martin-de-Ré. A breeding began in the 1980s to save the Poitou donkey and mule Poitevin, two races that were endangered. These very hardy animals are raised throughout the year outdoors. The donkeys are particularly visible around the Citadel in Saint-Martin-De-Ré.

St Martin’s Church at Saint-Martin de Ré is a listed monument since 1903. It had an eventful life. Built in the twelfth century it was rebuilt in the fifteenth century and became one of the largest churches in Aunis. Damaged in the middle of the sixteenth century during clashes between Catholics and Protestants, then destroyed by the Calvinists, some of its arches collapsed. To prevent the British installed cannons on the upper parts remaining, Thoiras had them killed. It was partially restored but again severely damaged in 1696 by the Anglo-Dutch bombardment. During the XVIII and XIX th centuries, it was converted, but has kept true greatness and look great. From the tower you will discover a magnificent panorama of Pertuis Breton (Breton Strait) Ile de Re and of course the city and the port of St-Martin-de-Ré.

Photos: views from Saint Martin’s church