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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The former abbey, also known as the castle of the Lords of Rhe or hotel of Clerjotte, is a 16th century building located in Saint-Martin-de-Ré, on the island of Re. This historic monument, classified in 1929, is distinguished by its architecture combining defensive and residential elements, with carved gables, octagonal towers and doric-style galleries. It reflects the strategic and social importance of the island in the Renaissance, between seigneurial power and maritime activities.

The main building, dating from the beginning of the 16th century, features a facade adorned with carved hooks and a large china bay framed with columns. An octagonal tower houses a stone staircase, while doric-style portals, partially preserved, complete the whole. Secondary works in the 18th century and a major restoration between 1960 and 1966 allowed it to be adapted into a museum, with the addition of a door from the Toiras barracks.

Since 1960, the Hotel de Clerjotte has hosted the Ernest Cognacq Museum, dedicated to the historical, military and artistic heritage of the island of Ré. Founded by the donation of Ernest Cognacq in 1906, the museum is enriched with various collections, ranging from archaeology to fine arts, prison history and the fortifications of Vauban. A contemporary wing, inaugurated in 2006, and French-style gardens, built in 2007, now complement this cultural ensemble.

The museum offers a chronological journey on the history of the island, from its first settlements to the contemporary era, as well as thematic rooms dedicated to the marine, ceramic and colonial bagnes. Recent acquisitions, supported by the Association of Friends of the Museum, have made it possible to enrich the collections, which have more than 14,000 properties listed in 2015. The site thus combines architectural heritage and museum missions, while enhancing local memory.

Ranked a historic monument for its buildings around the entrance courtyard, the former hotel in Clerjotte illustrates the evolution of a powerhouse into a cultural space. Its location in the heart of Saint-Martin-de-Ré, a city fortified by Vauban, strengthens its anchor in island history, between medieval heritage and contemporary tourism dynamism.

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