Saint-Martin-de-Ré

Saint -Martin -de- Ré is a commune with 2471 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) and the capital of the Île de Ré on the French Atlantic coast in the department of Charente- Maritime.

The extensive fortress was built in the early 17th century and considerably later extended by Vauban. From the nearby harbor citadel the convicts were formerly shipped to Bagno to Guyana and New Caledonia, (as it portrays about Henri Charriere Papillon in ). Part of the harbor is dependent on tides and falls completely dry at low tide.

The fortifications belong since 2008, together with other works in the whole of France, a UNESCO World Heritage Site " Fortifications of Vauban ".

Fortification in Saint -Martin

Gate to the fortress

Today Saint -Martin is an idyllic resort with 2471 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011). There is a marina right in the city about which hotels, restaurants and bistros group that invite you to linger. In the fortifications is today still the largest prison in the kind of " Maison Centrale ". There, prisoners are held, which are sentenced to long prison terms and their chances of successful rehabilitation as low are considered.

A point of contention in 1993 was the protection of the prison against the rescue of the victims through the use of helicopters. For this purpose, high masts were installed that were connected by steel cables. This type of backup was in stark contrast to the otherwise very picturesque architecture of the island. Meanwhile, the poles are removed and the steel cables attached to the amount of the fortress walls.

The outer fortifications can be visited.

Lighthouse of St. Martin

Port of St. Martin at low tide

Donkey in the fortress