Aix Island, between history and nature

L'ile d'Aix is a 129 hectares, crescent shaped island a few miles off the Aunis coast right in the heart of the Charentais archipelago : ile the Ré to its north, ile d'Oléron and Fort Boyard to its west and the Ile Madame to its south.

It combines all the varieties of the coastal landscapes of the Charente Maritime. A place of tranquillity only to be enjoyed on foot, bicycle or by horse and carriage.

L'ile d'Aix with its fortified village its fortifications and coastal batteries is an island of times gone by, pleasing lovers of history and making children dream of adventure.

The known history of the island commenced in XI th century with the foundation of the church, a monastry and the Saint Martin priory.

The following conflicts between the French and English kingdoms led to the creation of the Rochefort Arsenal in 1666 and the construction of impressive fortifications.

Under the first Empire the island was transformed into one huge fortress, the key position in the Rochefort defense system.
After a first visit in 1808 Emperor Napoleon the First came again in 1815 and lived in the governor's house for four days, his last stay on french soil before his exile to the island of St. Helena.

When the Rochefort military arsenal closed down in 1927 the island depopulated.
The Baronness and Baron Gourgaud founded the "Société des amis de L'ile d'Aix", a museum dedicated to Napoleon the First and a museum  dedicatet to African art and fauna.

The Ile d'Aix, 3 km long and 700 m wide is classified on the official list of ''Sites Naturels Remarquables''. It is a fragile environment to be respected.

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