Les Mathes

Les Mathes is a West commune with 1747 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Charente -Maritime in the Poitou -Charentes.

Location

Les Mathes is on the area between the Gironde and the Seudre Arvert peninsula, part of the historic cultural landscape of the Saintonge, which in turn is a part of the landscape of the Charente. The nearest major town Royan (about 15 km south route ).

Demographics

In the 19th century the city experienced a steady increase in the population of about 500 to nearly 900 residents. The mechanization of agriculture in the first half of the 20th century could not stop the increase in population, which is mainly due to the re-establishment of the resort of La Palmyre.

Economy

For centuries, agriculture and handicrafts played the dominant roles in the economy of the community. This is one of the Bons Bois wine-growing region of Cognac, but because of the slump in sales of wine fires wine is grown any more. Many farmers have returned to 'normal' agriculture. Since the 1960s, tourism plays a significant role in the economy of the place: the seaside resort of La Palmyre provides employment and a stable income situation.

History

The first documentary mention of the place in 1043 refers to a transfer of the parish to the abbey of Vaux- sur -Mer. In the 13th century the site of the parish of the neighboring village Arvert was affiliated. Les Mathes survived, however - unlike Arvert - the Hundred Years War (1337-1453) and the Wars of Religion (1562-1598) largely unscathed; in 1671 it became an independent parish. The Protestant faith, the West of France, in some communities clung to more than two-thirds of the population, lived after his ban by the Edict of Fontainebleau ( 1685) further underground - the believers met secretly in the dunes or in barns; one spoke of a church in the wilderness ' ( Église du Desert ). Only with the tolerant in religious matters Marshal and Governor Jean Charles de Saint- Nectaire the situation for Protestants in the middle of the 18th century improved to the Arvert peninsula again. A protestant church ( temple ) exists but is no longer in Les Mathes.

Attractions

• The Catholic Parish Church ( Eglise Saint- Cyr et Sainte- Julitte ) is the Sts. Consecrated Quiricus and Julietta. In its basic structure, the church is still medieval, but was repeatedly turned into the later centuries - most recently in the years 1870-72, when the west tower has been completely renewed. The nave interior of the church with its exposed brickwork of broken stone and wooden vaulted his looks remarkably harmonious; the only eye-catcher is a wooden pulpit. The octagonal baptistery in the vestibule dates from the swallowed by the sand dunes in the 15th -century Church of Notre- Dame de Buze in the Forêt de la coubre.
• Behind the church stands a covered wash house ( lavoir ') from the 19th century.
• Since the year 1960 stamped on the initiative of the then mayor on the Atlantic coast of the seaside resort of La Palmyre from the ground, which has since 1966 also a recognized throughout Europe Zoological Garden ( Zoo de la Palmyre see ). The amount of newly built houses and hotels of the place is based on the height of the trees (mostly maritime pine ) of the surrounding forest.

Partner community

• Antey -Saint -André, Aosta Valley, Italy ( since 1989)