Aytré

Aytré
Commune
Beach at Aytré
Coat of arms
Location of Aytré
Aytré Aytré
Coordinates: 46°08′05″N 1°06′48″W
Country	France
Region	Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Department	Charente-Maritime
Arrondissement	La Rochelle
Canton	Aytré
Intercommunality	CA La Rochelle
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Tony Loisel
Area 1	12.22 km2 (4.72 sq mi)
Population  (2021)	9,578
• Density	780/km2 (2,000/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	17028 /17440
Elevation	1–21 m (3.3–68.9 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Aytré (French pronunciation: [ɛtʁe]) is a commune in the Charente-Maritime department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwestern France.

Aytré is especially known for its long beach, which is easily accessible from neighbouring La Rochelle, or Les Minimes. The beach is flat and shallow, making it a good bathing spot for children, and an excellent spot for windsurfing.

The historian Jean Prasteau (1921–1997) was born in Aytré, as was Jean Desaguliers, a Protestant pastor, and father of John Theophilus Desaguliers.

Economy

Industries are few, and economic activity mainly gravitates around La Rochelle, with the distinct exception of Alstom Transportation. The world's fastest train, TGV, was designed right in Aytré. Oysters are cultivated in the bay and important camping grounds have been developed for tourists during the summer period.

History

During the Siege of La Rochelle, Cardinal de Richelieu spent time in a farm just to the south of Aytré.

Merovingian sarcophagus from Aytré cemetery, Orbigny-Bernon Museum

Population

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1793 1,036 —     1800 758 −4.37% 1806 1,038 +5.38% 1821 1,185 +0.89% 1831 1,320 +1.08% 1836 1,390 +1.04% 1841 1,453 +0.89% 1846 1,451 −0.03% 1851 1,463 +0.16% 1856 1,466 +0.04% 1861 858 −10.16% 1866 837 −0.49% 1872 766 −1.47% 1876 840 +2.33% 1881 923 +1.90% 1886 913 −0.22% 1891 1,019 +2.22% 1896 1,102 +1.58%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1901 1,099 −0.05% 1906 1,149 +0.89% 1911 1,333 +3.02% 1921 1,436 +0.75% 1926 1,645 +2.75% 1931 2,157 +5.57% 1936 2,067 −0.85% 1946 2,335 +1.23% 1954 3,021 +3.27% 1962 5,302 +7.28% 1968 6,197 +2.63% 1975 6,812 +1.36% 1982 7,278 +0.95% 1990 7,786 +0.85% 1999 7,725 −0.09% 2007 8,806 +1.65% 2012 8,948 +0.32% 2017 8,725 −0.50%
Source: EHESS and INSEE (1968-2017)

Panoramic view of the Pertuis d'Antioche from the Pointe du Chay promontory with, from left to right, Fouras, Fort Enet, Ile d'Aix, Fort Boyard, Ile d'Oléron, Île de Ré, La Rochelle, Aytré

See also

• Communes of the Charente-Maritime department

External links

• Official website