Loix en Re

Loix en Re is ​​the smallest village on the island of Ré. Just under 700 people stay there permanently and live mainly from salt extraction and oyster farming.

The soil of Loix is suitable for the crops of olive trees and vines, but also produces the famous potato od Ré, renown for its sweet flesh and salty skin. However, the economy of the township relies mainly on the production of salt and the raising of oysters.

As Saint-Martin-de-Ré, the municipality of Loix is ​​proud of its role in the decisive victory over English troops during their attempt to annex the island of Ré in 1627. In fact, the locality of Le Féneau, a famous place of Loix, was transformed into a mortal trap for the English soldiers of the Duke of Buckingham who drowned there, surprised by the rising tide.

Loix ​​also hosts the famous Ecomuseum of Salt Marsh which is one of the main tourist attractions of the town. Many visitors come here to discover the history and the techniques of salt production. You also have to address the ecomuseum if you want to take a stroll in the marshes which are natural habitats of some 300 species of seabirds.

In terms of monuments, the Sainte-Catherine church, Fort Grouin and the tidal mill are the pride of the village. The foundations of the church date back in 1379, but the present building is the work of the architect Brossard of La Rochelle in 1830. As for Fort Grouin, its construction goes back to 1742. The tidal mill, for its part, is still operating since its commissioning in the 18th century.