Beyond its beaches, salt marshes, and villages of white-washed houses, the Île de Ré boasts a remarkably rich history. To explore this history in just a few hours, head to Saint-Martin-de-Ré and the Ernest Cognacq Museum.
Designated a "Musée de France," the museum is housed in the Hôtel de Clerjotte a historic 15th-century building extended by a contemporary wing.
Make the most of your stay at our hotel on the Île de Ré by discovering the island's fascinating history!
The permanent exhibition traces the history of the Île de Ré from its earliest settlements to the modern era.
Topics ranging from archaeology, trade, and salt production to winemaking and the rise of tourism offer insight into how the island and the lives of its inhabitants the *Rétais* have evolved.
Naturally, maritime history plays a central role.
Various ship models illustrate commercial and military navigation as well as major expeditions.
Notable among them is the model of *Le Géographe*, the ship commanded by the island-born Captain Nicolas Baudin during his early 19th-century expedition to the Southern Lands.
It is impossible to speak of Saint-Martin-de-Ré without mentioning its Vauban fortifications, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
At the museum, a tactile model based on the 1703 relief map allows visitors to grasp the full scale of these defenses.
Another section of the exhibition covers a darker chapter in the island's past.
From 1873 onwards, Saint-Martin-de-Ré served as the departure point for convicts being sent to penal colonies in French Guiana and New Caledonia.
Documents and displays recount their time in detention on the island and their subsequent departure for the penal colony.
The Ernest Cognacq Museum also holds wonderful surprises for art lovers. Its collection comprises around 600 ceramic pieces: earthenware from La Rochelle, Nevers,
Rouen, and Moustiers sits alongside European and Asian works.
In the Fine Arts gallery, landscapes of the island are depicted on canvases by local artists such as Louis Suire, William Barbotin, and Pierre Tardy.
Before you leave, take a stroll through the museum gardens.
Local flora and plant species from the Americas provide the setting for among other things a replica of the George Washington statue created by Houdon.
Practical information:
Standard rate: €5.00
Student rate (up to age 25): €3.00
Free admission: under-18s, job seekers, and people with disabilities.
After visiting Saint-Martin-de-Ré, enjoy the comfort of the rooms and rentals at the 4-star Hôtel Plaisir in Le Bois-Plage-en-Ré.
Designated a "Musée de France," the museum is housed in the Hôtel de Clerjotte a historic 15th-century building extended by a contemporary wing.
Make the most of your stay at our hotel on the Île de Ré by discovering the island's fascinating history!
Step back in time at the Ernest Cognacq Museum
The permanent exhibition traces the history of the Île de Ré from its earliest settlements to the modern era.
Topics ranging from archaeology, trade, and salt production to winemaking and the rise of tourism offer insight into how the island and the lives of its inhabitants the *Rétais* have evolved.
Naturally, maritime history plays a central role.
Various ship models illustrate commercial and military navigation as well as major expeditions.
Notable among them is the model of *Le Géographe*, the ship commanded by the island-born Captain Nicolas Baudin during his early 19th-century expedition to the Southern Lands.
Discover Vauban’s fortifications and the history of the penal colony
It is impossible to speak of Saint-Martin-de-Ré without mentioning its Vauban fortifications, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
At the museum, a tactile model based on the 1703 relief map allows visitors to grasp the full scale of these defenses.
Another section of the exhibition covers a darker chapter in the island's past.
From 1873 onwards, Saint-Martin-de-Ré served as the departure point for convicts being sent to penal colonies in French Guiana and New Caledonia.
Documents and displays recount their time in detention on the island and their subsequent departure for the penal colony.
Explore the art and ceramics collections
The Ernest Cognacq Museum also holds wonderful surprises for art lovers. Its collection comprises around 600 ceramic pieces: earthenware from La Rochelle, Nevers,
Rouen, and Moustiers sits alongside European and Asian works.
In the Fine Arts gallery, landscapes of the island are depicted on canvases by local artists such as Louis Suire, William Barbotin, and Pierre Tardy.
Before you leave, take a stroll through the museum gardens.
Local flora and plant species from the Americas provide the setting for among other things a replica of the George Washington statue created by Houdon.
Practical information:
Standard rate: €5.00
Student rate (up to age 25): €3.00
Free admission: under-18s, job seekers, and people with disabilities.
After visiting Saint-Martin-de-Ré, enjoy the comfort of the rooms and rentals at the 4-star Hôtel Plaisir in Le Bois-Plage-en-Ré.
