Saint-Clément-des-Baleines
| Saint-Clément-des-Baleines | ||
|---|---|---|
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| region | Nouvelle-Aquitaine | |
| Department | Charente-Maritime | |
| Arrondissement | La Rochelle | |
| Canton | Île de Ré | |
| Community association | Île de Ré | |
| Coordinates | 46 ° 14 ′ N , 1 ° 32 ′ W | |
| height | 0-18 m | |
| surface | 6.80 km 2 | |
| Residents | 644 (January 1, 2017) | |
| Population density | 95 inhabitants / km 2 | |
| Post Code | 17740 | |
| INSEE code | 17318 | |
| Website | www.iledere.com | |
Saint-Clément-des-Baleines is a French commune with 644 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2017) on the Île de Ré on the Atlantic coast . It is a village without its own port on the west coast (côte sauvage) of the island, opposite / above the island of Île d'Oléron and at the same time represents the northernmost point of the island. Saint-Clement is one of the smaller places on the island, which is composed of five small hamlets: from (1) Le Gillieux (the largest "village" in which Monsieur Julien du Collège de Mazarin lived and built two chapels: one private and one public) and (2) Le Chabot (the property of the "Famille Chabot"), (3) La Tricherie (where the "Trichets" lived), (4) Le Godinand (the Godin family) and (5) Le Griveau (Les Grauvrits) - all original locations with freshwater wells In 1843 a central parish church was built for the five scattered "villages" and consecrated by the priest from Ars, baptized: "St. Clement" (of the whales) in memory of Pope Clement, during whose lifetime the Saintonge region was evangelized.
Saint-Clément-des-Baleines is the westernmost municipality in the Charente-Maritime department. The coastal strip in Saint-Clément-des-Baleines is mostly a sandy beach with stony part (rocky) underground, which makes it possible at low tide good mussels and other seafood to gather. But there are also some small sections of cliffs . East of the lighthouses is the most beautiful sandy bay on the island. However, the beach is a little disfigured by the remains of the bunker structures of the Atlantic Wall from the Second World War . Scenes from the US feature film The Longest Day were filmed here in the 1960s .
Population development
| year | 1962 | 1968 | 1975 | 1982 | 1990 | 1999 | 2009 | 2016 |
| Residents | 439 | 490 | 480 | 516 | 607 | 728 | 721 | 628 |
| Sources: Cassini and INSEE | ||||||||
economy
Like most places on the island, this one essentially lives off
- fishing
- Tourism. There are a number of campsites and a hotel.
- Sea tourism and water sports
- Mainly potatoes , asparagus , vegetables and wine are grown.
The light to medium-heavy sandy soil allows the cultivation of potato varieties that are otherwise not found in France. They are the only potatoes in France that are allowed to carry the AOC label. The vegetables are marketed throughout France under the specially created and protected designation of origin Île de Ré .
Attractions
See also: List of Monuments historiques in Saint-Clément-des-Baleines
- The village has two lighthouses that are still in operation, namely on the land of the Phare des Baleines (57 meters, built in 1854 ) and in the water of the Phare des Baleineaux . There is also an old, 27 m high lighthouse from the 17th century , which was commissioned by Minister Colbert after the proposal was made to him by his cousin, the then Naval Director of Rochefort , Charles Colbert de Terron . It was completed in 1682 .
- The fish locks at the Conche-des-Baleines are under monument protection and are maintained and operated by an interest group. The catch belongs to the members. A hike at low tide over the lock wall at the lighthouse is an interesting experience. But you have to pay attention to the tides, because at high tide the tour is under water. Non-slip shoes are important; because the lock heads are overgrown with algae.
- The wing signal (French Le Sémaphore ) of the French Navy
- The shed of the old lifeboat (French: Le Hangar de l'ancien Canot de Sauvetage )
history
In the past it has happened repeatedly that whales are stranded on the island:
- From Pliny the Elder it is handed down that around 300 whales are said to have stranded on the northern tip of the island and that is where the name of Baleines comes from.
- Captain Bruneau from Rivedoux reports that the whales were stranded on December 31, 1582
- Nicolas Herbin , notary of the feudal lords of Ars and Loix, reports of a stranding in 1584 and 1586.
- Jehan Seignette , a doctor from La Rochelle , observed the stranding and death of a 15-meter-long whale.
literature
- Le Patrimoine des Communes de la Charente-Maritime. Flohic Editions, Volume 1, Paris 2002, ISBN 2-84234-129-5 , pp. 104-106.
