Sainte-Marie-de-Ré (, literally ''Saint Mary of Ré'') is a

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 ...

in the

Charente-Maritime Charente-Maritime () is a department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region on the southwestern coast of France. Named after the river Charente, its prefecture is La Rochelle. As of 2019, it had a population of 651,358 with an area of 6,864 square kil ...

department in southwestern

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

Geography

Sainte-Marie-de-Ré is a small village, on the southern coast of the

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 high ...

, 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

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 Thalassotherapy (from the Greek word ''thalassa'', meaning " sea") is the use of seawater as a form of therapy. Note: Thalasso therapy is a sub-definition under the listing for Thalasso. It also includes the systematic use of sea products and shor ...

: The thalassotherapy center on the waterfront of the south-eastern edge of Sainte-Marie was expanded in 2004. * Computer information technology.

Sights

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