The best traffic-free bike rides around Médis

The port of Ribérou is a major heritage site in Saujon, bearing witness to a prosperous maritime past linked to the salt and wine trade. Transformed in the 19th century by ambitious works, it has now been reinvented as a place for living, relaxation, and preserving local history. 🛶 Origins and the Middle Ages The port of Ribérou takes its name from the Latin word ripa ("riverbank") or the Occitan word ribèira ("river"). It is located at the head of the Seudre estuary. It existed as early as the 11th century and became an important river and sea port thanks to its strategic position at the head of the estuary, used particularly for the salt trade—then called "white gold"—a highly sought-after product for preserving food. 🚢 Medieval Period and International Trade With the opening of British markets during the reigns of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II Plantagenet, ships laden with wool, salt, wine, and other goods flocked to Ribérou. In the 16th century, the port exported local wines (such as cognac and pineau) throughout Europe. In 1577, during the Wars of Religion, the port was a strategic site: troops were stationed there, and battles took place. 🏗️ Decline, Reconstruction, and the 19th Century The estuary gradually silted up, making navigation difficult. By 1691, only smaller vessels could dock there. During the French Revolution, the sale of the tidal mill, which helped remove sediment, worsened the silting, leading to the port's decline. A modernization project began in 1822, but it wasn't until 1839 that an ambitious program was launched under the impetus of Jules Dufaure—a native of Saujon and Minister of Public Works—with the construction of sturdy quays, slipways, a lock bridge (marking the boundary between fresh and salt water), and reception facilities. In 1842, the work was completed, and the main quay was named Quai Dufaure in honor of this political support. 📉 Gradual Decline and Modernization The arrival of the railway in 1876 and the persistent problems of silting led to a decline in the port's traditional commercial activity, already facing competition from other transport networks. In the 20th century, the port gradually lost its economic importance but remained active for traditional fishing and became a place for pleasure boating, leisure, and local culture. Urban and tourism development projects (particularly in 2011–2012) modernized the port while preserving its historical charm. 🌊 Today The port of Ribérou is now a small fishing and pleasure port, much appreciated for its walks along the Seudre River, water sports (canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, etc.), and seasonal events.

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Small, typical oyster port

The port of Ribérou is a fishing and pleasure port located at the end of the Seudre estuary, in Saujon. It is one of the two ports in the city, along with that of Breuil, a little downstream. Active since the 11th century, it took on its current appearance from 1842, under the impetus of the Minister of Public Works at the time, Jules Dufaure, a "local boy", who thus attempted to revive maritime trade and fishing activities, which were then in decline. Ideally located, on the edge of the city center, the La Lande leisure center and the preserved areas of the Seudre marshes (towpaths transformed into walking trails), it has become one of the major tourist attractions in Saujon, where theme evenings and the July 14 fireworks are organized. In 2011, the municipality began a renovation program for the port site, entrusted to the architect-urban planner Sophie Blanchet. It consists of transforming the old car parks into a pedestrian esplanade, a real meeting place with modern street furniture and, in the long term, green spaces. From the quays, lined with bourgeois buildings, small picturesque streets lined with hollyhocks allow you to crisscross the district and reach the city centre. The Ribérou lock bridge, known as the "bridge of opposing waters", was renovated in 2010. It marks the separation between the waters of the estuary (port side: brackish water) and the waters of the river (retention basin side: fresh water). Ribérou is a starting point for certain water sports (canoeing and kayaking). It is approximately 250 metres long and 40 metres wide. From Ribérou, it is possible to reach successively the ports of Breuil (Saujon), L'Éguille, Mornac, Chaillevette, Chatressac (Chaillevette), Grandes Roches and Orivol (Étaules), La Grève in Duret and Coux (Arvert), La Grève (La Tremblade) and La Cayenne (Marennes).

The organs of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste church in Saujon. In 1962-1963, Pierre Nadeau built a 6-stop organ, without visible pipes, entirely expressive. In 1973, Dominique Oberthür carried out a repair of the organ. In 1978-1979, the Etablissements Muhleisen of Strasbourg rebuilt the organ which was inaugurated by Jacques Dussouil on June 9, 1979. The Walther Buffet is a two-body, polychrome, in fir and plywood. The large body has three turrets (the central one in a pointed third) framing two flat faces. The back positive includes two flat turrets framing a flat face. The facade includes 56 tin pipes (29 in the large body and 27 in the back positive). Console in a window projecting from the base. 4 windchests with engravings and registers.

The first Romanesque church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste, about which we know practically nothing except that it replaced a monument destroyed and burned in 1415 by the English, at the same time as the priory of Saint-Martin and this by a certain Hutington, at the breaking of the truces of King Richard. Around 1530 it was ruined during the wars of religion. It had a vaulted nave and buttresses larger than the current church. The current church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste, built between 1679 and 1683, on a project by Jacques Guérinet, architect of the convent buildings of the Abbaye-aux-Dames de Saints. Houses four capitals of the old Romanesque church, discovered during work carried out on the fairground. One of them shows Daniel in the lion's den, the saint seated blessing holds the Book. It is separated from the wild animals by a horseshoe-shaped mandorla, decorated with pearls. Another capital represents the Resurrection with the Holy Women and the tomb on which the angel is seated. The third illustrates the Weighing of Souls. The clothes, the finely worked details, the varied expressions of the characters (note the horrible clawed demon who tries to tip the scales on his side), make this work one of the peaks of Saintonge Romanesque sculpture. The last one presents an enigmatic scene: characters, including a man bending under the weight of an enormous fish that he is carrying. These four capitals, which are among the most beautiful sculpted works of Saintonge, are placed at a low height, which allows one to admire all the details. The following website is very well documented on these capitals: http://chapiteaux.free.fr/TXT_Saujon.html

In 1962-1963, Pierre Nadeau built a 6-stop organ, without visible pipes, entirely expressive. In 1973, Dominique Oberthür carried out a repair of the organ. In 1978-1979, the Etablissements Muhleisen of Strasbourg rebuilt the organ which was inaugurated by Jacques Dussouil on June 9, 1979. The Walther Buffet is a two-body, polychrome, in fir and plywood. The large body has three turrets (the central one in a pointed third) framing two flat faces. The back positive includes two flat turrets framing a flat face. The facade includes 56 tin pipes (29 in the large body and 27 in the back positive). Console in a window projecting from the base. 4 windchests with engravings and registers.

The Romanesque church of Saint-Martin disappeared during the Revolution. The first Romanesque church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste, of which we know practically nothing except that it replaced a monument destroyed and burned in 1415 by the English, at the same time as the priory of Saint-Martin and this by a certain Hutington, at the breaking of the truces of King Richard. Around 1530 it was ruined during the wars of religion. It had a vaulted nave and buttresses larger than the current church. The current church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste, built between 1679 and 1683, on a project by Jacques Guérinet, architect of the convent buildings of the Abbaye-aux-Dames de Saints. Houses four capitals of the old Romanesque church, discovered during work carried out on the fairground. One of them shows Daniel in the lion's den, the saint seated blessing holds the Book. It is separated from the wild animals by a horseshoe-shaped mandorla, decorated with pearls. Another capital represents the Resurrection with the Holy Women and the tomb on which the angel is seated. The third illustrates the Weighing of Souls. The clothes, the finely worked details, the varied expressions of the characters (note the horrible clawed demon who tries to tip the scales on his side), make this work one of the peaks of Saintonge Romanesque sculpture. The last presents an enigmatic scene: characters, including a man bending under the weight of an enormous fish that he is carrying. These four capitals, which are among the most beautiful sculpted works of Saintonge, are placed at a low height, which allows one to admire all the details. See the site http://chapiteaux.free.fr/TXT_Saujon.html