Oléron
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Île d'Oléron (English: Island of Oleron) is an island off the Atlantic coast of France (due west of Rochefort), on the southern side of the Pertuis d'Antioche strait. It is the second largest French island after Corsica (not counting French overseas possessions).
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[edit] History
It was there in about 1152 to 1160 that Eleanor of Aquitaine introduced the first "maritime" or "admiralty" laws in that part of the world: the Rolls of Oleron. In 1306, Edward I of England granted the island to his son, Edward II, as part of the duchy of Aquitaine.
[edit] Administration
Administratively, the island belongs to the Charente-Maritime département, in the Poitou-Charentes région. The island is divided into 8 communes:
- La Brée-les-Bains
- Le Château-d'Oléron
- Dolus-d'Oléron
- Le Grand-Village-Plage
- Saint-Denis-d'Oléron
- Saint-Georges-d'Oléron
- Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron
- Saint-Trojan-les-Bains
The island has about 19,000 inhabitants.
[edit] Transportation
Since 1966, the island has been connected to the mainland by a road bridge. With a length of 3027 m, it is the longest bridge in France. It has been toll-free since 1991.
[edit] External links
