Ile de Ré : Les activités productrices

ACTIVITIES OF PRODUCTION RHÉTAISE

Collecting

salt flower

SALT-WATER MARSHES

The harvest of salt is an ancestral craft industry in the island. The preliminary work of the squares is done manually. Water saléé, is brought sea by the caneaux ones in one vasais where it takes care with 27g/l of salt. Then it arrives in the squares after the controlled opening of the vertocs. The made level, the sun takes care of the evaporation of water until 280g/l. The cristalisation, in sodium clorure, appears. The collecting is painful and requires a great dexterity. The small critaux ones of salt flower are recovered on the surface and the deicing salt on the bottom. The deicing salt is stored on the "bumps" then transported with copérative which takes care of the sale. The salt flower is conditionnéé and sold in packing various.

The marshes of the island date at least from XIIe century. The saltworks are re-elected to provide best salts which preserve fish without burning it. This source of prosperity attracts the foreign navy. In 1158, Louis VII gives to Eble de Mauléon the possession of Isle de Rhé. In 1199, Raoul de Mauléon gives to the monks of Citeaux the salt-water marshes of Old man-Pozeran. The great names of the French nobility were owners of salt-water marshes of Isle de Rhé.

THE VINE

It is one of the principal cultures of the island. The plans are renouvellés and today one finds many fields with young stocks protected by nets (the young inches are appraisals by rabbits). The wine grower does not make any more his wine as in the past. The copérative cellar collects harvest.

WINE

Copérative viticultural the, located one on the commune of wood, manufactures the wines, which you will be able to taste, of the island (white, rosy, red). These wines are with being drunk fresh.

In Ve century, the vine existed and occupies in 1886 four thousand hectares on a surface of 8.512 hectares. The average of production is 300.000 hectolitres. In 1242, Henri III of England allows Rhétais to only sell their wines to the merchants of the coasts of Brittany. Sums of money were raised on harvests and the trade was régenté.

PERSONAL PHOTOGRAPHS

THE PINEAU
"ILRHEA"
It results from a mixture of grape juice! and of cognac, but
especially of a know-how inherited the ancestors. As for the wine, it is made with the co-operative of "Wood Beach". During your holidays, it is the ideal aperitif, been useful very fresh. Attention, the abuse alcohol is disadvised.

THE COGNAC

That of the island east, like the pineau, distilled and aged with the co-operative of "Wood Beach".
vin

THE PATATO

Its harvest is early in Spring. It has had label AOC for a few years. Its sweetened taste is with the particular character of the ground (sand).

ASPARAGUSES

As of the first days of Spring, this vegetable is a delight for the
papillae. Like potato, it pushes in sand. So it tender and is sweetened.

OTHER RECOLTES

Tomatos, cabbages flowers, melons, French beans, zucchinis, aubergines, salads.... in the gardens and the fields. For restrints needs, corn, sunflowers, barley, alfalfa...

THE KELP

The vareck is always collected for the gardens amongst other things. There is really the embarrassment of the choice. It is a rich manure and it cost only the sorrow to collect it.

FISHING COTIERE

It remains little of sailors for fishing close to our coasts. Some
makes resistance to keep this activity. It is so pleasant to go to
seek its quite fresh fish with the return of the tide.

FISHING A FEET

Each month, with largest coéfficient, réthais them and the continental ones are ruent with their basket. Hope to return with wild oysters, moulds, clams, solens, crabs (lobsters!!), hulls or fish if they posed a net at the coast. The maréyeurs prennet their tractors, it is less tiring to carry.

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