Saint-Martin-de-Ré

French commune
nomcommune=Saint-Martin-de-Ré
The quays
région=Poitou-Charentes
département=Charente-Maritime
arrondissement=La Rochelle
canton=Saint-Martin-de-Ré
insee=17369
cp= 17410
maire=Georgine Lafontaine
mandat=2001-2008
intercomm=Ile-de-Ré
longitude=-1.36722222222
latitude=46.2030555556
alt moy=8 m
alt mini=0
alt maxi=17 m
hectares=470
km²=4.70
sans=2637
date-sans=1999
dens=561
date-dens=1999

Saint-Martin-de-Ré is a commune in the Charente-Maritime department in western France.

It is one of the 10 communes located on the Île de Ré.

Fortifications

Saint-Martin-de-Ré has extensive fortifications, reflecting the strategic importance of the Île de Ré. During the Wars of Religion in the 1620s, Cardinal Richelieu ordered that the island be fortified as a counterweight to the Protestant nearby city of La Rochelle on the French mainland. This included a citadel at Saint Martin. After La Rochelle had been subdued, Saint-Martin's fortification were largely demolished to remove its potential threat to royal power.

Later, in the 1670s, the French engineer, Vauban was commissioned to review and overhaul the island's defences and, as a result, Saint Martin was enclosed by extensive and modern walls and embankments. This was done in three major phases anding in 1702 and the end result was an enclosed town capable of housing the island's population for a long siege.

Famous people

*Nicolas Baudin, sailor and explorer.

ee also

*Ernest Cognac Museum
*Communes of the Charente-Maritime department

References

"Based on the article in the French Wikipedia."

External links

* [http://perso.wanadoo.fr/all.web/musee Le Musée de l'Île de Ré - Le Musée Ernest Cognacq de Saint-Martin-de-Ré]
* [http://perso.wanadoo.fr/all.web/fortifications Les Fortifications Vauban de Saint-Martin-de-Ré]
* [http://www.fortified-places.com/saintmartin.html The fortifications of Saint-Martin-de-Ré - fortified-places.com]