Editing Oléron

{{Short description|French coastal island}}
{{Infobox islands
| name             = Isle of Oléron
| image_name       = Île d'Oleron.png
| image_caption    = Aerial photograph of Oléron
| image_size       = 250px
| map              = France Poitou-Charentes
| map_caption      = 
| native_name      = 
| native_name_link = 
| nickname         = 
| location         = Atlantic Ocean
| coordinates      = {{Wikidatacoord|Q292568|type:isle_region:FR-17|display=inline,title}}
| archipelago      = 
| total_islands    = 
| major_islands    = 
| area_km2         = 174
| length_km        = 30
| width_km         = 8
| highest_mount    = 
| elevation_m      = 34
| country          = France
| country_admin_divisions_title   = [[Regions of France|Region]]
| country_admin_divisions         = [[Nouvelle-Aquitaine]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_1 = [[Departments of France|Department]]
| country_admin_divisions_1       = [[Charente-Maritime]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_2 = [[Arrondissements of France|Arrondissement]]
| country_admin_divisions_2       = [[Arrondissement of Rochefort|Rochefort]]
| country_capital_city            = 
| country_largest_city            = [[Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron]]
| country_largest_city_population = {{formatnum:6687}}
| country_leader_title            = 
| country_leader_name             = 
| population       = {{formatnum:21871}}
| population_as_of = 2010
| demonym          = Oléronais(e)
| density_km2      = 126
| ethnic_groups    = [[French people]]
}}
[[File:Île d'Oléron aerial view.jpg|thumb|Oléron island aerial view.]]
The '''Isle of Oléron''' or '''Oléron Island''' ({{langx|fr|link=no|île d'Oléron}}, {{IPA|fr|il dɔleʁɔ̃|}}; [[Saintongese dialect|Saintongese]]: ''ilâte d'Olerun''; {{langx|la|Uliaros insula}}, {{IPA|la|uliˈaːros ˈinsula|}}) is an island off the [[Atlantic]] coast of France (due west of [[Rochefort, Charente-Maritime|Rochefort]]), on the southern side of the [[Pertuis d'Antioche]] strait.
[[File:Oleron 1686 BNF leg.jpg|thumb|1686 map of Oléron]]
It is the second largest island of [[Metropolitan France]], after [[Corsica]], with a length of {{convert|30|km|mi|abbr=on}} and a width of {{convert|8|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}. It has an area of 174&nbsp;km{{sup|2}} (67 sq. mi.) and more than 21,000 permanent inhabitants.

==History==
Oléron has been known since the 1st century, where [[Pliny the Elder]] refers to it in his [[Natural History (Pliny)|Natural History]] as Uliaros (''"in aquitanico sinu Vliaros")''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Henderson |first=Jeffrey |title=Pliny Natural History: Book IV: Chapter XIX |url=https://www.loebclassics.com/view/pliny_elder-natural_history/1938/pb_LCL352.203.xml?amp;readMode=verso |access-date=31 May 2023 |website=Loeb Classical Library |language=en |archive-date=31 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531204201/https://www.loebclassics.com/view/pliny_elder-natural_history/1938/pb_LCL352.203.xml?amp;readMode=verso |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:FR 17 Saint-Georges-d'Oléron - Château Fournier.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Château Fournier, located in Saint-Georges d'Oléron, bears witness to the island's wine-growing past. Today, it has been transformed into a retirement home.]]
Towards the end of the 3rd century, the Roman emperor [[Probus (emperor)|Probus]] extended the privilege of owning vineyards and producing wine to all Gauls, and this led to a culture of winemaking developing on the island.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historique |url=https://www.vignoble-ile-oleron.fr/le-vignoble/historique/ |access-date=31 May 2023 |website=Vignoble de l'île d'Oléron |language=fr-FR |archive-date=31 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531100530/https://www.vignoble-ile-oleron.fr/le-vignoble/historique/ |url-status=live }}</ref> This lasted until the end of the 19th century, when [[Great French Wine Blight|the arrival of phylloxera]] decimated almost all the vines. The vineyards did not recover, and grape production today is mainly for Cognac ''bois ordinaires''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=AlejTech.sk |title=Coulon XO Île d'Oléron Très Vieille Réserve |url=https://www.cognacinfo.com/fr/bouteille/coulon-/coulon-xo-ile-d-oleron-tres-vieille-reserve.html |access-date=5 June 2023 |website=cognacinfo.com |language=fr |archive-date=5 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605210807/https://www.cognacinfo.com/fr/bouteille/coulon-/coulon-xo-ile-d-oleron-tres-vieille-reserve.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the 7th and 8th century, the island, along with [[Ré]], formed the ''Vacetae Insulae'' or Vacetian Islands, according to the ''[[Aethicus Ister|Cosmographia]]''.<ref>[[#Sources|Collins' book]], p. 214.</ref> Vaceti was another name for the [[Vascones]], the reference is seen evidence of Basque (Gascon) control of the islands by that time.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}

It was at Oléron in about 1152 to 1160 that [[Eleanor of Aquitaine]] introduced the first [[Admiralty law|'maritime' or 'admiralty' laws]] in that part of the world: the [[Rolls of Oléron]]. In 1306, [[Edward I of England]] granted the island to his son, [[Edward II]], as part of the [[Duchy of Aquitaine]].

In 1793, during the French Revolution, the villages of the isle of Oléron were renamed. The Château d'Oléron became "Equality", Saint-Trojan became "La Montagne", Dolus became "Sans-Culotte", Saint-Pierre became "La Fraternité" and Saint-Georges became "L'Unité". The overall territory of Oléron became '''the island of Liberty'''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Noms des communes de la Charente-Maritime sous la Révolution française — Geneawiki |url=https://fr.geneawiki.com/index.php/Noms_des_communes_de_la_Charente-Maritime_sous_la_R%C3%A9volution_fran%C3%A7aise |access-date=1 June 2023 |website=fr.geneawiki.com |archive-date=1 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601210441/https://fr.geneawiki.com/index.php/Noms_des_communes_de_la_Charente-Maritime_sous_la_R%C3%A9volution_fran%C3%A7aise |url-status=live }}</ref> A few years later, the original names were given back to the villages and towns.

During the [[Second World War]], the island was occupied by German forces and fortified. It was liberated by [[Free French Forces]] in an [[amphibious assault]] code-named [[Royan pocket|Operation Jupiter]] on 29 April 1945. The [[French cruiser Duquesne (1925)|French cruiser ''Duquesne'']] fired 550 heavy shells at the German artillery batteries, and the garrison surrendered on the following day.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Auphan |first1=Paul |last2=Mordai |first2=Jacques |date=1959 |title=The French Navy in World War II |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DKuqDAAAQBAJ&dq=The+French+Navy+in+World+War+II+%22Operation+Jupiter%22+April+29&pg=PA353 |location=Annapolis MD |publisher=United States Naval Institute |pages=353–354 |isbn=978-1-59114-566-0 |access-date=2021-11-17 |archive-date=2024-05-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530062302/https://books.google.com/books?id=DKuqDAAAQBAJ&dq=The+French+Navy+in+World+War+II+%22Operation+Jupiter%22+April+29&pg=PA353#v=onepage&q=The%20French%20Navy%20in%20World%20War%20II%20%22Operation%20Jupiter%22%20April%2029&f=false |url-status=live }} (2016 edition)</ref>

The isle of Oléron is known today for the quality of its [[oyster]] production.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historique {{!}} huîtres Marennes Oléron |url=https://www.huitresmarennesoleron.info/terroir_historique.html#:~:text=L%27histoire%20des%20Hu%C3%AEtres%20Marennes,moderne%20des%20Hu%C3%AEtres%20Marennes%20Ol%C3%A9ron. |access-date=1 June 2023 |website=www.huitresmarennesoleron.info |archive-date=1 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601210442/https://www.huitresmarennesoleron.info/terroir_historique.html#:~:text=L%27histoire%20des%20Hu%C3%AEtres%20Marennes,moderne%20des%20Hu%C3%AEtres%20Marennes%20Ol%C3%A9ron. |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Geography and climate==
[[File:Île d'Oléron.svg|thumb|left|Map of Oléron]]
The island has an area of about {{convert|174|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}. It is a fertile and well cultivated island on the Atlantic coast of France, that is on the [[Bay of Biscay]].

The climate is generally mild (maritime temperate) with sufficient but not excessive rainfall, but with probably from 3 to 15 days of intense heat in the summer months of July and August, mostly grouped.<ref name="oleron tourist office">http://www.ile-oleron-marennes.com/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060705013740/http://www.ile-oleron-marennes.com/ |date=2006-07-05 }} by La Maison du Tourisme de l'île d'Oléron et du bassin de Marennes 2007</ref>

Oléron is located on the sunniest part of the French Atlantic coast, receiving more than 2100 hours of sunshine per year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Paris |first=Meteo |title=Actualités météo: L'ensoleillement en France et son évolution ces dernières années 26/04/2022 |url=https://www.meteo-paris.com/actualites/l-ensoleillement-en-france-et-son-evolution-ces-dernieres-annees |access-date=1 June 2023 |website=www.meteo-paris.com |language=fr |archive-date=1 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601173501/https://www.meteo-paris.com/actualites/l-ensoleillement-en-france-et-son-evolution-ces-dernieres-annees |url-status=live }}</ref>
{{Weather box
|location = Île d'Oléron (Chassiron), 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1884–present
|collapsed = yes
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high C = 17.2
|Feb record high C = 20.4
|Mar record high C = 23.4
|Apr record high C = 26.7
|May record high C = 31.2
|Jun record high C = 35.6
|Jul record high C = 35.0
|Aug record high C = 35.9
|Sep record high C = 32.8
|Oct record high C = 28.8
|Nov record high C = 21.2
|Dec record high C = 18.6
|year record high C = 35.9
|Jan high C = 9.3
|Feb high C = 9.8
|Mar high C = 12.3
|Apr high C = 14.4
|May high C = 17.8
|Jun high C = 20.7
|Jul high C = 22.5
|Aug high C = 22.7
|Sep high C = 21.0
|Oct high C = 17.6
|Nov high C = 13.1
|Dec high C = 10.1
|year high C = 16.0
|Jan mean C = 7.3
|Feb mean C = 7.6
|Mar mean C = 9.8
|Apr mean C = 11.7
|May mean C = 15.0
|Jun mean C = 17.9
|Jul mean C = 19.8
|Aug mean C = 20.0
|Sep mean C = 18.2
|Oct mean C = 15.1
|Nov mean C = 10.9
|Dec mean C = 8.0
|year mean C = 13.5
|Jan low C = 5.3
|Feb low C = 5.3
|Mar low C = 7.4
|Apr low C = 9.1
|May low C = 12.3
|Jun low C = 15.1
|Jul low C = 17.1
|Aug low C = 17.3
|Sep low C = 15.3
|Oct low C = 12.6
|Nov low C = 8.7
|Dec low C = 5.9
|year low C = 11.0
|Jan record low C = -10.0
|Feb record low C = -9.2
|Mar record low C = -5.2
|Apr record low C = -0.8
|May record low C = 4.6
|Jun record low C = 7.2
|Jul record low C = 10.2
|Aug record low C = 10.0
|Sep record low C = 7.8
|Oct record low C = 1.0
|Nov record low C = -2.0
|Dec record low C = -8.8
|year record low C = -10.0
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 68.0
|Feb precipitation mm = 51.9
|Mar precipitation mm = 46.9
|Apr precipitation mm = 58.9
|May precipitation mm = 50.9
|Jun precipitation mm = 38.7
|Jul precipitation mm = 41.8
|Aug precipitation mm = 37.1
|Sep precipitation mm = 56.8
|Oct precipitation mm = 80.7
|Nov precipitation mm = 87.4
|Dec precipitation mm = 83.7
|year precipitation mm = 702.8
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 11.9
|Feb precipitation days = 9.4
|Mar precipitation days = 9.2
|Apr precipitation days = 10.5
|May precipitation days = 9.2
|Jun precipitation days = 6.6
|Jul precipitation days = 6.6
|Aug precipitation days = 5.9
|Sep precipitation days = 7.4
|Oct precipitation days = 11.6
|Nov precipitation days = 12.3
|Dec precipitation days = 12.9
|year precipitation days = 113.6
|Jan sun = 78.8
|Feb sun = 112.5
|Mar sun = 155.5
|Apr sun = 205.7
|May sun = 238.5
|Jun sun = 252.4
|Jul sun = 282.2
|Aug sun = 264.6
|Sep sun = 195.0
|Oct sun = 131.7
|Nov sun = 94.2
|Dec sun = 68.6
|year sun = 2079.8
|source 1 = Meteociel <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.meteociel.fr/obs/clim/normales_records.php?code=17323001 |title=Normales et records pour Chassiron (17) |publisher=Meteociel |access-date=11 September 2020 |archive-date=19 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919231826/https://www2.meteociel.fr/obs/clim/normales_records.php?code=17323001 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|source 2 = Météo Climat <ref>{{cite web |url=http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/index.php?page=stati&id=178 |title=Île d'Oléron weather extremes |publisher=Météo Climat |access-date=19 September 2018 |archive-date=4 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004012201/http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/index.php?page=stati&id=178 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}
{{Weather box
|location = Île d'Oléron (Château-d'Oléron), 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1989–present
|collapsed = yes
|single line = Y
|metric first = Y
|Jan record high C = 16.5
|Feb record high C = 20.3
|Mar record high C = 23.5
|Apr record high C = 29.1
|May record high C = 31.0
|Jun record high C = 36.3
|Jul record high C = 37.1
|Aug record high C = 39.0
|Sep record high C = 34.6
|Oct record high C = 29.4
|Nov record high C = 22.7
|Dec record high C = 19.1
|year record high C = 39.0
|Jan avg record high C = 
|Feb avg record high C = 
|Mar avg record high C = 
|Apr avg record high C = 
|May avg record high C = 
|Jun avg record high C = 
|Jul avg record high C = 
|Aug avg record high C = 
|Sep avg record high C = 
|Oct avg record high C = 
|Nov avg record high C = 
|Dec avg record high C = 
|year avg record high C = 
|Jan high C = 9.6
|Feb high C = 10.7
|Mar high C = 13.5
|Apr high C = 15.6
|May high C = 19.7
|Jun high C = 22.6
|Jul high C = 24.5
|Aug high C = 25.0
|Sep high C = 22.2
|Oct high C = 18.1
|Nov high C = 13.1
|Dec high C = 9.8
|year high C = 17.1
|Jan mean C = 7.1
|Feb mean C = 7.8
|Mar mean C = 10.2
|Apr mean C = 12.2
|May mean C = 16.0
|Jun mean C = 18.8
|Jul mean C = 20.6
|Aug mean C = 21.0
|Sep mean C = 18.4
|Oct mean C = 15.0
|Nov mean C = 10.4
|Dec mean C = 7.3
|year mean C = 13.8
|Jan low C = 4.7
|Feb low C = 4.9
|Mar low C = 6.9
|Apr low C = 8.7
|May low C = 12.3
|Jun low C = 15.0
|Jul low C = 16.7
|Aug low C = 17.0
|Sep low C = 14.5
|Oct low C = 12.0
|Nov low C = 7.8
|Dec low C = 4.9
|year low C = 10.5
|Jan avg record low C = 
|Feb avg record low C = 
|Mar avg record low C = 
|Apr avg record low C = 
|May avg record low C = 
|Jun avg record low C = 
|Jul avg record low C = 
|Aug avg record low C = 
|Sep avg record low C = 
|Oct avg record low C = 
|Nov avg record low C = 
|Dec avg record low C = 
|year avg record low C = 
|Jan record low C = -6.6
|Feb record low C = -6.5
|Mar record low C = -4.6
|Apr record low C = 0.8
|May record low C = 5.1
|Jun record low C = 9.6
|Jul record low C = 10.0
|Aug record low C = 11.4
|Sep record low C = 7.7
|Oct record low C = 1.1
|Nov record low C = -3.7
|Dec record low C = -7.9
|year record low C = -7.9
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 76.5
|Feb precipitation mm = 56.6
|Mar precipitation mm = 55.0
|Apr precipitation mm = 67.0
|May precipitation mm = 57.1
|Jun precipitation mm = 42.0
|Jul precipitation mm = 40.6
|Aug precipitation mm = 41.0
|Sep precipitation mm = 64.9
|Oct precipitation mm = 96.0
|Nov precipitation mm = 94.6
|Dec precipitation mm = 93.3
|year precipitation mm = 784.6
|unit precipitation days = 1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 12.0
|Feb precipitation days = 9.8
|Mar precipitation days = 10.2
|Apr precipitation days = 10.6
|May precipitation days = 9.3
|Jun precipitation days = 7.1
|Jul precipitation days = 6.9
|Aug precipitation days = 6.4
|Sep precipitation days = 7.6
|Oct precipitation days = 12.2
|Nov precipitation days = 12.8
|Dec precipitation days = 13.1
|year precipitation days = 118.1
|Jan sun = 
|Feb sun = 
|Mar sun = 
|Apr sun = 
|May sun = 
|Jun sun = 
|Jul sun = 
|Aug sun = 
|Sep sun = 
|Oct sun = 
|Nov sun = 
|Dec sun = 
|year sun = 
|source 1 = Meteociel <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.meteociel.fr/obs/clim/normales_records.php?code=17093002 |title=Normales et records pour Chateau d'Oleron (17) |publisher=Meteociel |access-date=11 September 2020 |archive-date=19 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919224245/https://www2.meteociel.fr/obs/clim/normales_records.php?code=17093002 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

{{Clear}}

==Administration==
Administratively, the island belongs to the [[Charente-Maritime]] ''[[département]]'', in the [[Nouvelle-Aquitaine]] ''[[région]]''. The island is divided into 8 [[commune in France|communes]]:
[[File:StGeorges Oleron eglise.jpg|thumb|[[Saint George]]'s church, Oléron]]

* [[La Brée-les-Bains]]
* [[Le Château-d'Oléron]]
* [[Dolus-d'Oléron]]
* [[Le Grand-Village-Plage]]
* [[Saint-Denis-d'Oléron]]
* [[Saint-Georges-d'Oléron]] (includes [[Boyardville]])
* [[Saint-Pierre d'Oléron]]
* [[Saint-Trojan-les-Bains]]

The island has about 22,000 inhabitants.

==Transportation==
[[Image:Oleron pont.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|Île d'Oléron bridge, seen from Le Château d'Oléron]]
Since 1966, the island has been connected to the mainland by a road bridge, the {{ill|Oléron bridge|fr|Pont de l'île d'Oléron}}. With a length of {{convert|2,862|m|ft|abbr=on}} between [[abutment]]s, it was the [[List of bridges by length|longest bridge]] in France at the time of construction. It is now the third one, after the [[Saint-Nazaire Bridge|Saint-Nazaire bridge]] and the [[Île de Ré bridge]]. It has been toll-free since 1991.

To get to the island, it is possible to arrive at the stations of [[Surgères]], [[Saintes, Charente-Maritime|Saintes]] or Rochefort, then take the bus.
On the island itself, the easiest way to get around is by car or by bicycle. During the last ten years, a network of {{convert|110|km|mi|abbr=off|sp=us}} of bicycle paths have been built. These bicycle lanes are mostly car-free.

==Tourism==
[[File:Chateau d Oleron 1703 military mock up.jpg|thumb|[[Le Château-d'Oléron]], 1703 military mock-up.]]
As a large Atlantic island only {{convert|3|km|mi|abbr=off}} off the Aquitanian coast of France, Oléron is a popular tourist destination. Several companies operate boat trips from the towns of Boyardville and Saint-Denis to the nearby [[Île d'Aix]], [[La Rochelle]], and past the [[Fort Boyard (fortification)|Fort Boyard]]. The port towns are frequently visited by tourists, especially the village of La Cotiniere. This village is the base for a hundred trawlers who sell their fish every day at 5 am and 4 pm. La Cotiniere was the first fishing port in the department of Charente-Maritime, and the 8th of France.<ref>[[:fr:Île d'Oléron]]</ref>

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
*Collins, Roger. "The ''Vaccaei'', the ''Vaceti'', and the rise of ''Vasconia''." ''Studia Historica VI''. Salamanca, 1988. Reprinted in Roger Collins, ''Law, Culture and Regionalism in Early Medieval Spain''. Variorum, 1992. {{ISBN|0-86078-308-1}}.

==External links==
{{commons category|Île d'Oléron}}
* {{in lang|fr}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20190111025102/https://ile-d-oleron.com/ The official tourist office website for Oléron Island]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oleron}}
[[Category:Oléron| ]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Charente-Maritime]]
[[Category:Islands of the Bay of Biscay]]
[[Category:Islands of Charente-Maritime]]
[[Category:Aunis]]