Ars-en-Ré is a commune on the Île de Ré in the Charente-Maritimedepartment, Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France. Formerly called just Ars, the commune changed to its current name on 8 March 1962. The inhabitants of the commune are known as Arsais or Arsaises but they are nicknamed the Casserons: the casseron is a baby cuttlefish, a saltwater fish commonly found on the island.
Geography
Ars-en-Ré is one of 10 communes located on the Île de Ré off the coast of La Rochelle and is in the north-western part of the island some 8 km west of Saint-Martin-de-Ré. Access to the commune is by the D735 road which crosses to the island from the end of National Highway N237 at La Rochelle. The D735 passes along the north coast of the island through Saint-Martin-de-Ré and continues north-west to the commune passing through the town and continuing north-west to the Baleines Lighthouse. Apart from the town there is the village of La Grange nearby on the coast and Le Martray to the east along the coast. The town occupies the centre of the commune and there are forests on the western side with the rest of the commune farmland including extensive salt farms. Its harbour is the largest on the Île de Ré and is located at the bottom of the Fier d'Ars, which is reached by a channel through the salt farms. A lock closes the tidal basin which has 250 berths. A new basin with 130 berths is to be created in future at the channel entrance. There are 150 moorings on buoys in the outer harbour and the channel has a capacity of 550 berths, mainly dedicated to pleasure craft. A beach on the south coast of the island, bordered by a dyke to protect the land, extends to the Baleines Lighthouse at the western tip of the island.
Neighbouring communes and villages
History
The Prince of Soubise was defeated here in 1624. The port was important during the "salt era" until the beginning of the 20th century. The gabelle or salt tax was significant in the area.
In 2010 the commune had 1,330 inhabitants. The evolution of the number of inhabitants is known from the population censuses conducted in the commune since 1793. From the 21st century, a census of communes with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants is held every five years, unlike larger towns that have a sample survey every year.
Distribution of Age Groups
The population of the town is relatively old. The ratio of persons above the age of 60 years is higher than the national average and the departmental average. As with national and departmental allocations, the male population of the town is less than the female population. Percentage Distribution of Age Groups in Ars-en-Ré and Charente-Maritime Department in 2010
The village is a member of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France. Since 2011 the commune has belonged to the network "Villages of stone and water", a label initiated by the General Council to promote exceptional sites with the distinction of being located near a body of water.
Civil Heritage
Ars-en-Ré has a number of buildings that have been registered as historical monuments by the Ministry of Culture. These are:
There are nearly 200 items in Ars-en-Ré that are registered as historical objects and in private collections. For a complete list of these items with links to descriptions and photos . ;Other sites of interest
The Port with its new tidal basin at the entrance of the access channel.
Le Martray, the narrowest point of the island.
The Fiers d'Ars
Salt farms
The old station of the Petit train de l'Île de Ré at the port.
Many religious buildings and monuments are registered as historical monuments at the Ministry of Culture:
The Priory of Saint-Étienne in the Place Carnot The Priory contains a very large number of items that are registered as historical objects. For a complete list including links to descriptions and photos .
The Convent of the Sisters of Wisdom at Rue du Havre
In the Narthex of the church there is a representation of John Vianney, the famous "Curé of Ars" although he was a priest in the commune of Ars-sur-Formans in Ain.
