Timeline

Origin and history

The Notre-Dame-des-Flux-et-Reflux chapel, also known as Notre-Dame-des-Marins, is an emblematic monument located in the commune of Portes-en-Ré. This place of worship, whose construction period is not specified in the available sources, bears a name evocative of local maritime activities, reflecting its close link with the sea and the sailors. Chapels dedicated to the Virgin Mary, like this one, were often spiritual and geographical landmarks for coastal communities.

In areas such as New Aquitaine, where fishing and navigation activities were central, these buildings played a major social and religious role. They served as places of prayer for the protection of sailors, but also as a gathering for the inhabitants, thus strengthening community ties around shared beliefs and traditions.