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Sablanceau (anciently Saint-Blanceau) is a beach at the easternmost end of the island of
On 12 July 1627, an War and government in Britain, 1598-1650 by Mark Charles Fissel, p.123
/ref> This landing of English troops would be followed a few days later by the dramatic
A
File:Laredoutederivedouxplage01.jpg, The fortress ("Redoute") of Rivedoux.
File:Redoute de Sablanceau 1722.jpg, 1722 map of the "redoute" of Rivedoux.
File:Inside of the Sablanceau Redoute with German era blockhaus.jpg, Inside of the Rivedoux Redoute with German era blockhaus (left), and 17th century quarters (right).
In 1701, a forward
File:Batterie_de_Sablanceau_outside_view.jpg, Sablanceau battery, outside view.
File:Batterie_de_Sablanceau_gun_position.jpg, Sablanceau battery gun position.
File:Batterie de Sablanceau German battery.jpg, Near the Sablanceau battery, the World War II German battery.
Sablanceau (anciently Saint-Blanceau) is a beach at the easternmost end of the island of Île de Ré
Île de Ré (; variously spelled Rhé or Rhéa; Poitevin: ''ile de Rét''; en, Isle of Ré, ) is an island off the Atlantic coast of France near La Rochelle, Charente-Maritime, on the northern side of the Pertuis d'Antioche strait.
Its highe ...
in western France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
. Sablanceau belongs to the commune
A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to:
Administrative-territorial entities
* Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township
** Communes of ...
of Rivedoux-Plage
Rivedoux-Plage () is a commune in the Charente-Maritime department in southwestern France. It is situated on the Île de Ré.
The commune includes the beach of Sablanceau. People who live on the island are called the ''Rivedousais'' and the ''Ri ...
.
English landing (1627)
On 12 July 1627, an English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
invasion force of 100 ships and 6,000 soldiers under the command of the Duke of Buckingham
Duke of Buckingham held with Duke of Chandos, referring to Buckingham, is a title that has been created several times in the peerages of England, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom. There have also been earls and marquesses of Buckingham.
...
invaded the island of Île de Ré
Île de Ré (; variously spelled Rhé or Rhéa; Poitevin: ''ile de Rét''; en, Isle of Ré, ) is an island off the Atlantic coast of France near La Rochelle, Charente-Maritime, on the northern side of the Pertuis d'Antioche strait.
Its highe ...
at the beach of Sablanceau, with the objective of controlling the approaches to La Rochelle
La Rochelle (, , ; Poitevin-Saintongeais: ''La Rochéle''; oc, La Rochèla ) is a city on the west coast of France and a seaport on the Bay of Biscay, a part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Charente-Maritime department. With ...
, and of encouraging the rebellion in the city. Toiras
Jean Caylar d'Anduze de Saint-Bonnet, Marquis de Toiras (1585–1636), often just called Toiras, was a Marshal of France of the 17th century.
Toiras fought against Soubise in the Capture of Ré island in 1625. After his victory, he received the ...
fought against the landing from behind the dunes
A dune is a landform composed of wind- or water-driven sand. It typically takes the form of a mound, ridge, or hill. An area with dunes is called a dune system or a dune complex. A large dune complex is called a dune field, while broad, fl ...
, with a force of 1,200 infantry and 200 horsemen, but the English beachhead was maintained, with over 12 officers and 100 men dead./ref> This landing of English troops would be followed a few days later by the dramatic
Siege of Saint-Martin-de-Ré (1627)
The siege of Saint-Martin-de-Ré, or siege of St. Martin's (French: ''siège de Saint-Martin-de-Ré''), was an attempt by English forces under George Villiers, the Duke of Buckingham, to capture the French fortress-city of Saint-Martin-de-Ré, ...
.
Fortifications
The vulnerability of the coast to an hostile landing, proven in the English landing of 1627, highlighted the need to create some sort of fortification in the area of Sablanceau.Rivedoux redoubt
A redoubt
A redoubt (historically redout) is a fort or fort system usually consisting of an enclosed defensive emplacement outside a larger fort, usually relying on earthworks, although some are constructed of stone or brick. It is meant to protect soldi ...
(Fr: "Redoute") was built in 1674 as part of the effort by Vauban to fortify the coast.
The redoubt is square in shape, with two connected projections (called "épaulement") which could be used as artillery
Artillery is a class of heavy military ranged weapons that launch munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during siege ...
platforms. Inside the redoubt, a house for the garrison, a well for water and an underground storage room can be found.
The redoubt was refurbished in 1862 under Napoleon III
Napoleon III (Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte; 20 April 18089 January 1873) was the first President of France (as Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte) from 1848 to 1852 and the last monarch of France as Emperor of the French from 1852 to 1870. A nephew ...
, with the walls especially being given a smoother finish. The redoubt was again used during World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
by the Germans
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3,322,405
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who established a small defensive artillery base there, as part of their defensive fortifications along the coastline. Fortified "blockhaus" quarters remain from that period.
Visits of the redoubt are now organized by the municipality of Rivedoux-Plage
Rivedoux-Plage () is a commune in the Charente-Maritime department in southwestern France. It is situated on the Île de Ré.
The commune includes the beach of Sablanceau. People who live on the island are called the ''Rivedousais'' and the ''Ri ...
.
Sablanceau battery
In 1701, a forward battery
Battery most often refers to:
* Electric battery, a device that provides electrical power
* Battery (crime), a crime involving unlawful physical contact
Battery may also refer to:
Energy source
*Automotive battery, a device to provide power t ...
, the "Batterie de Sablanceau", was also built: it was a simple fortification wall covered in grass, which could accommodate 12 cannons. The battery was disarmed in 1827, but again refurbished as an ammunition depot in 1894. The battery remains to this day, and was reinforced by German Blockhaus fortifications during World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
.
The battery cannot be visited, and is circled by barbed wire.
Notes
{{Coord, 46, 9, 38, N, 1, 15, 34, W, type:landmark_region:FR, display=title Landforms of Charente-Maritime Beaches of Metropolitan France Tourist attractions in Charente-Maritime Île de Ré