Sainte-Marie-de-Ré (French pronunciation: [sɛ̃t maʁi də ʁe], literally Saint Mary of Ré) is a commune in the Charente-Maritime department in southwestern France.

Geography

Sainte-Marie-de-Ré is a small village, on the southern coast of the Île de Ré, 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 commune was officially begun in 1790.

Population

• Inhabitants of Sainte-Marie-de-Ré: Maritais.
• Inhabitants of La Noue: Nouais.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1968	1,195	—
1975	1,165	−0.36%
1982	1,317	+1.77%
1990	1,806	+4.03%
1999	2,655	+4.37%
2007	3,082	+1.88%
2012	3,283	+1.27%
2017	3,366	+0.50%
Source: INSEE

Economy

• Agriculture: grape vineyards, asparagus, potatoes.
• Tourism.
• Thalassotherapy: 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

See also

• Communes of the Charente-Maritime department