pointe chassiron hd — ©️ Arthur Habudzik

arthur habudzik Marennes Oléron sables history port — ©️ Arthur Habudzik

Where the Atlantic catches its breath

History of the port of Saint-Denis-d’Oléron

The Saint-Denis marina is the fruit of mankind’s fight against the silting up of the coastline, a battle won after several centuries of research and unsuccessful attempts.

Arthur Habudzik Saint Denis Oléron history — ©️ Arthur Habudzik

Eight centuries facing the sea

The port’s evolution over the centuries

The construction of the harbor’s first jetty may date back to the XIIᵉ century, enabling Chassiron wine to be transported to the port of La Rochelle. It was in the XVIIᵉ century that the first documents mentioning a tax to repair the port were found.

The next two centuries were a succession of dike and jetty constructions and repairs, battling against silting that was stronger than anything else. At the beginning of the XIXᵉ century, any idea of a protected harbor was even abandoned, the breakwater destroyed. Thus, in 1926, in Paul Thomas’s historical work, L’île d’Oléron à travers les siècles, we read:

” Before rounding the extreme tip of the island, there’s another abandoned port: Saint-Denis, also a victim of sandbank encroachment.

The rebirth of the port and its development as a tourist attraction

Thetourism boom revived the project. This time, the studies were better conducted, the financing less difficult to obtain, and the materials more studied and solid. In 1989, the town’s new port was inaugurated.

Since summer 2006, the Saint-Denis harbor’s infrastructure has been complemented by a shopping area featuring bistros, restaurants, ice-cream parlors, chandlery, souvenirs, local products, bike rentals, bookshops, jewelry and more. In an exceptional environment, the port, which has been awarded Europe’s Blue Flag, offers all the services and shops that yachtsmen can expect.

The walk along the quay is not disturbed by cars, as this area is reserved for pedestrians.

Arthur Habudzik Saint Denis Oléron reconstruction development — ©️ Arthur Habudzik

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