Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche

Saint -Martin d'Ardèche is a commune with 921 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in Ardèche, at the end of the Ardèche Gorge. The d' Ardèche in the name refers to the river.

History

Before the French Revolution the name of the village of St Martin de la Pierre or Provençal de la Peyre; in medieval documents the small, inhabited by fishermen and sailors and belonging to Aiguèze hamlet is simply named Petra. As Saint- Martin himself, the village is first mentioned at the beginning of the 16th century, when the Bishop of the diocese of Viviers was near a castle near the village of build. To place Aiguèze on the opposite bank of the Ardèche - ie the Duchy of Uzès - historically belonged so Saint- Martin as the neighboring villages of Le Garn and Laval - Saint-Roman to the local government reform of the French Revolution: Aiguèze as Le Garn and Laval then the Gard have been assigned.

1895 was built in Saint -Martin a stone bridge to reach Aiguèze all year round can. It consisted only up to the flood in early September 1900. 1905 a new suspension bridge was built, which is still there ( until July 2005 officially opened ... ). Dams in the Cevennes now calm the Ardèche and their wild tributary Chassezac.

In late summer 2004, the area was hit by severe floods. It had two days with less rain in the Cevennes, that several rivers ( Céze, Gard ) increased to eight to ten meters within six hours. Medieval bridges were destroyed ( Pont St- Nicolas near Uzès, called Charles -Martel Bridge in La Roque- sur -Cèze ), towns and villages on the Rhone flooded ( Codolet, Aramon, outskirts of Arles, etc.). The Ardèche river rose only " as usual " - Saint -Martin was thus based less: a campground was evacuated and three shops on the river bank were under water. A total of eleven people died in the disaster in Gard killed.

Tourism

Between March and November, Saint- Martin is a popular destination for canoeists, cave lovers and hikers. Due to the congestion of the Ardèche in Saint -Martin also bathers are not rare. From Saint- Martin from canoe trips can be booked through the gorge, in the northern district of Sauze ends of the navigable portion of the Ardèche. The town has hotels, restaurants, guest rooms and several campsites.

The vineyards of the village lying in the wine region of the southern Rhone Valley. The wines may be marketed under the appellations of Côtes du Rhône and Côtes du Rhône Villages stricter quality.

Attractions

• Castle and town Aiguèze
• Renaissance Castle Le Bosquet (1 km east of the village), built in the early 16th century by the Bishop of Viviers
• The first Mediterranean flora ( juniper, pine, green oak on thyme, lavender ) to the Gorges on the highway (Route Touristique des Gorges, D 290) of Saint -Martin to Vallon - botanical footpath to the Grottes de Saint -Marcel.

Haven

From 1938 to 1941, the painter Max Ernst lived with Leonora Carrington in a remote farm in Saint -Martin d'Ardèche. His former house is a listed building, but can not be visited. Nevertheless, it can be seen performed by Ernst facade work from the road.