town hall of Saint-Clément-des-Baleines

The town hall of Saint-Clément-des-Baleines serves as the seat of local government for a small commune at the northwestern tip of Île de Ré, an island off the coast of Charente-Maritime in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France. Modest in size, the commune carries a history deeply tied to the sea and to one of the most recognizable lighthouses on the French Atlantic coast.

How did Saint-Clément-des-Baleines become its own commune?

For much of its history, this stretch of the island was not an independent commune at all — it belonged to neighboring Ars-en-Ré and was made up of five separate hamlets: le Chabot, le Gillieux, le Griveau, la Tricherie, and le Godinand. Independence came only in 1874, when the settlement was formally established as its own commune, creating the need for a town hall to house local administration. The commune marked its 150th anniversary in 2024.

Where does the name "des Baleines" come from?

The second part of the name, meaning "of the whales," recalls events from around two centuries ago, when whales were repeatedly stranded on the sandbank at the island's northwestern point during their migrations. Those strandings gave their name both to the headland and to the commune that grew up around it.

What can visitors see near the town hall?

The area's standout landmark is the Phare des Baleines, a towering lighthouse standing at the Pointe des Baleines, the westernmost point of the island. The current structure was built between 1849 and 1853 and put into service in 1854. Rising 57 meters, it ranks among the tallest and most powerful lighthouses on the French coast, with a beam visible from more than 50 kilometers away. It replaced an older tower, the Vieille Tour, built in 1682 to a design by the architect Augier, which had served the same navigational purpose for well over a century.

The village itself retains the look of a classic island settlement: low white houses with green shutters, narrow lanes, and a setting caught between the open ocean and a pine forest that separates the built-up area from the dunes. It is within this setting that the town hall functions as the natural center of a community historically sustained by fishing, salt production, and tourism.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly is Saint-Clément-des-Baleines located? The commune sits at the northwestern tip of Île de Ré, in the Charente-Maritime department, within the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France.

Since when has Saint-Clément-des-Baleines been an independent commune? It became its own commune in 1874; before that, the area was administratively part of Ars-en-Ré and consisted of five smaller hamlets.

Can visitors see a lighthouse near the town hall? Yes, the well-known Phare des Baleines stands at the Pointe des Baleines, right next to the village, and ranks among the main attractions in this part of the island.

Where does the village's name come from? The name refers to historical episodes of whales becoming stranded on the sandbanks off the coast during their migrations.