Sainte-Marie-de-Ré

Sainte-Marie-de-Ré (, literally Saint Mary of Ré) is a commune in the Charente-Maritime department in southwestern France.

Geography
Sainte-Marie-de-Ré is a small village, on the southern coast of the Île de Ré, 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: The thalassotherapy center on the waterfront of the south-eastern edge of Sainte-Marie was expanded in 2004.
 * Computer information technology.

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