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Key figures

Origin and history

The Cité de l'Oyître is an interpretation centre dedicated to oyster farming, located in Marennes, Charente-Maritime. This site, inaugurated in 2006, is one of the major tourist hubs of the department, listed among its 17 must-see sites. It extends over 10 hectares, including 8 dedicated to an educational oyster farm and 2,000 m2 for the interpretation centre, consisting of five thematic rooms and a discovery trail, the Way of the Clear.

The architectural project was designed by Brice Kohler, from Triade to Niort, in collaboration with scenographer Alan Smith. The centre showcases the local ecosystem, the history of osteoculture, and production techniques through thematic huts on stilts. These spaces, such as the Blue Cabin (ecosystem), the Red Cabin (Marais) or the Green Cabin (Ostre farmers' history), offer an immersion in the world of oysters.

The City of the Oyster also includes an active oyster farm, where a couple of oyster growers refines and sells oysters, serving as educational support for visitors. The site offers entertainment, a restaurant, a shop, and adapted access (parkings, summer shuttles). Open from April to November, it attracts tourists thanks to its varied exhibitions and its natural setting between the Cayenne channel and the clear oysters.

Located near the historic centre of Marennes, the City plays a key role in the development of the Marennes-Oléron basin, the leading European oyster producer. Its museum approach combines living heritage, education and tourism, strengthening the attractiveness of the region and the knowledge of this ancestral profession.

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