Étaules, Charente-Maritime

The commune has a network of bicycle paths as part of the "Pathways of Seudre" - a collaboration between the Department Council, the Agglomeration Community Royan Atlantique, and the Community of communes of the Marennes basin. The network has been operated since 2007 and allows the exploration of oyster farms and the Seudre Marsh landscape.

The town is served by the Cara'Bus public transport network which connects to other communes in the Royannaise agglomeration. It was inaugurated on 2 January 2006 under the name " Très Royannais" and was originally composed of hybrid minibuses (electric and diesel). It has been operated since September 2008 by the Veolia Transport company and was renamed "Cara'Bus" since then.[3]

Étaules-Église, one of the three stops of the Cara'Bus urban transport network of Royan.

A modernization of the urban transport network in the agglomeration on 5 January 2009 led to the purchase of Heuliez shuttle buses as well as increasing the number of regular routes from three to ten with three additional routes in summer.[4]

Three Cara'Bus stops are located in the commune: Étaules-Syndicat d'initiative, Étaules-Église et Étaules-Cimetière, and a fourth in the entrance of the city, but in the commune of Chaillevette : Chaillevette-Rond-Point. Three bus routes serve the commune:

• Route 42 starts at Étaules passing all the stops in the commune and going to La Tremblade, Ronce-les-Bains, and Marennes;
• Route 41 starts from Ronce-les-Bains and goes to Cozes via La Tremblade, Arvert, Étaules, Chaillevette, Breuillet (Le Magarin stop), Saint-Sulpice-de-Royan (Fontbedeau stop), Saujon, Le Chay, and Grézac;
• Route 22 connects Bramble-les-Bains to the Royan multimodal railway station via La Tremblade, Arvert, Étaules, Chaillevette, Breuillet (Centre-Ville), Vaux-sur-Mer (Val Lumière shopping centre), and Royan.

The commune is also served by the Les Mouettes departmental transport company, more specifically by the routes 409, 410, and 411 which connect Breuillet to Bourcefranc-le-Chapus via Arvert, La Tremblade, and Marennes. This service links to the main cities of the department.

The nearest airport is that of Rochefort Saint-Agnant, about 25 kilometres north. The La Rochelle – Île de Ré Airport, 50 kilometres north, has services to some major French cities such as Paris and Lyon as well as the British Isles and Northern Europe. About 100 kilometres south-east of the commune, Bordeaux - Merignac Airport is an international airport with connections to many countries.

From 1789 to 1799, under the Act of 14 December 1789, the municipal agents (equivalent to mayors) were directly elected for 2 years and re-elected by the working citizens of the town aged 25 years or more who paid a tax of at least 3 days of work in the commune. Those who were eligible paid a tax equivalent to at least ten working days.

The city hall (19th century).

From 1799 to 1848, under the constitution of 22 Frimaire Year VIII (13 December 1799), mayors were appointed by the prefect for communes with less than 5,000 inhabitants. The Restoration established the appointment of mayors and councillors. After the 1831 organic law mayors were appointed (by the king for communes with more than 3,000 inhabitants, by the prefect for smaller) but councillors were elected by censal suffrage for six years.

From 3 July 1848 to 1851 mayors were elected by the municipal council for communes with fewer than 6,000 inhabitants.

From 1851 to 1871 mayors were appointed by the prefect for communes with less than 3,000 inhabitants and for 5 years from 1855. After 1871 mayors were elected again except in the capital towns (of departments, arrondissements, or cantons).

It was on 28 March 1882 that the current law on municipal organization was passed which governed the principle of election of the mayor and the deputy by the council whatever the size of the commune (except for Paris). The law of 5 April 1884 fixed the term to four years, a duration increased to six years on 10 April 1929.[5]

According to its size, the commune has a council of 19 members (Article L2121-2 of the General Code of local authorities).[6]

Etaules is one of the six communes in the Canton of La Tremblade. In 2010 it was the third most populous town behind La Tremblade and Arvert.

Etaules is one of 34 communes adhering to the Urban Community of Royan Atlantique which includes the communes in the greater periphery of Royan.

Etaules depends on the Tribunal d'instance (district court) and the Conseil de prud'hommes (Labour Court) of Rochefort; the Tribunal de grande instance (High Court), the Tribunal pour enfants (Juvenile court), and the Tribunal de commerce (Commercial Court) of La Rochelle; the Tribunal administratif (Administrative Court) and the Cour d'appel Court of Appeal of Poitiers. The Cour administrative d'appel (Administrative Court of Appeal) is in Bordeaux.

A regional share of the Dwelling tax is not applicable.

Professional tax was replaced in 2010 by the Land premium for companies (CFE) on the rental value of their property and the value added contribution of the business sector (CAVE) (the two forming the Territorial Economic Contribution (CET) which is a local tax introduced by the Finance Act 2010).[8]

In 2017 the commune had 2,475 inhabitants.

The population of the town is relatively young. The ratio of persons above the age of 60 years (32.8%) is a little bit higher than the departmental average (29.0%) and the national average (21.8%). Unlike national and departmental allocations, the male population of the town is less than the female population (47.2% against 48.1% nationally and 48.2% at the departmental level).

Etaules depends on the Academy of Poitiers. The town has a kindergarten (small, medium, and large section) and an elementary school. Both schools have a school restaurant (self-service for students from the CP).

The kindergarten, located on Charles Hervé Street (main axis of the city center), has three classes. Its numbers were 65 children during the 2011–2012 school year. Three teachers, three specialized territorial agents and a school carer supervise children. Place of awakening, kindergarten hosts an activity room (with a floor damping). Workshops educating smaller to other cultures are organized occasionally, as well as educational shows. New games have been installed in the playground by communal workshops in August 2010. Damping mats have been put in place in order to further secure these play spaces.

The elementary school of Etaules. The frescoes are a tribute to Keith Haring.

The elementary school, located rue des Ecoles, has five classes: CP, CE1, CE1 / CE2, CM1 and CM2. Its numbers were 124 students during the 2011–2012 school year. The faculty is composed of five teachers, assisted by an employee of school life. The school organizes sports activities throughout the year, including swimming lessons at the pool of Saujon and sailing courses at Ronce-les-Bains. As for the kindergarten, new games and rigging were set up in the playground in 2010, with the assistance of the company "OCE Loisir". Among these include in particular a secure portal providing vertical wall bars, horizontal wall bars, ladder climbing, climbing net reinforced rope, horizontal bar and a pair of gymnastic rings. The whole is protected by amortissants carpet.

The school has a new school canteen, commissioned in 2011. A home-work (local contract with schooling) has been set up for students in elementary school. In partnership with a municipal employee and in partnership with the "Relais assistance maternelle" of Royan, volunteers carrying two nights a week (Monday and Thursday) to provide assistance to children, but also to frame them for workshops (reading, crafts, etc.) and various activities; the purpose of these devices is "to promote the well-being and success of every child, but also to support the families." Finally, after-school reception service is open to school children in the town, every day of the school year, from 7:45 to 9:00 a.m. and 4:45 to 6:15 p.m.

Students of high schools are directed to the collège Fernand-Garandeau of La Tremblade, Étaules dependent school district of this city. The nearest high schools are located in Royan. The urban transport network Cara'Bus is responsible for student transportation.

Like all municipalities of the Sivom La Tremblade, Étaules adopts new school beats in September 2013. It is distinguished from its neighbors by asking a financial contribution set at €2.50 per child week, with a penalty of €5 per child in case of unjustified absence workshops.

Youth policy is set across the Canton of La Tremblade. It is managed by a SIVOM (Syndicat intercommunal à vocations multiples) and aims to accommodate children outside school times.[11] It consists of three divisions: infants, children (3–12 years), and youths (13–18 years). Three Nursery schools are open to children of the canton: "La Farandole" and "Pirouettes Cacahuètes" in Arvert town centre, and "Les petites goules" at La Tremblade.

The playground of Etaules, open to children from 1 year old.

The cantonal leisure centre is located in the commune and is open to children from 3 years old. It is a Summer camp without accommodation offering crafts, expression workshops, games, and activities (tree climbing, swimming, horseback riding, etc.). Mini-camps are organized during the summer. Finally, the "Maison de La Treille" at La Tremblade is open to youths aged 13 to 18 years. It offers sports activities, workshops, and outings (surfing, paintball, diving, etc.). It also offers a room with video games and internet access. Young people can also submit their own projects.

The town has a playground dedicated to children 1 to 12 years since December 2013. Designed as a 'Espace multiloisirs ", it is located close to the main stadium and sports facilities of the municipality (skate park, fitness trail). Arranged with the assistance of the company "Quali-Atlantic City", which is responsible for the manufacturing and installation, it consists of six different structures: a game "Squirrel" spring (from 1 to 6 years ), a swing (from 2 to 8 years), a "castle" structure (ladders, climbing net, slide and tunnel - from 2 to 6 years), a "palm tree" structure (net climb, descent mast, slide - from 2 to 12 years), a "pyramid" structure (climbing net - from 6 years) and a portico with two swings.

This recreation area for children reinforces the existing supply in neighboring municipalities including Arvert, which also has a "Parc de Loisirs" of equipment provided to the youngest.

The transmitters at Royan-Vaux-sur-Mer and Niort-Maisonnay allow the reception of 18 free channels of Digital terrestrial television (TNT) across the whole commune including the local France 3 Poitou-Charentes station. On 31 May 2009, the high-power transmitter was among the first to broadcast a new multiplex which allowed the reception of the first transmissions of High-definition television (HD).[12]

Most national radio stations present in the department can be heard in the commune. Departmental information is relayed by public radio station France Bleu La Rochelle. The local radio stations that can be heard in the commune are mainly:

• Vogue Radio (a local radio station of the La Tremblade agglomeration whose studios are in Arvert and which is transmitted throughout the peninsula, including Royan),
• Demoiselle FM (general broadcasting from Rochefort with studios in Saint-Georges-de-Didonne)
• Terre Marine FM (general broadcasting from Fouras)
• Mixx radio (techno, dance, and electronic music broadcasting from Cognac and retransmitted by the Saintes transmitter)
• RCF Accords Charente-Maritime (religious broadcasting from La Rochelle).
• Wit FM (general broadcasting from Bordeaux) can sometimes be heard but randomly depending on weather conditions.

Local press is represented by the daily Sud Ouest, headquartered in Bordeaux, which has a local edition from Royan.

Two Main distribution frame are located in the commune. In 2013, they are unbundled by several alternative operators (SFR, Free, and Bouygues Telecom) in addition to the incumbent operator, Orange. ADSL, ADSL2+, Re-ADSL 2, and ADSL television are available in the commune.

Etaules belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of La Rochelle and Saintes which has been a sub-division of the Ecclesiastical province of Poitiers since 2002 (Ecclesiastical Province of Bordeaux before that date) and the Deanery of Royan. The parish is included in the Parish of the Arvert Peninsula centred on La Tremblade.

Etaules houses a Church of the Reformed Church where there are services on some Sundays at 10:30am, alternating between La Tremblade, Marennes, Arvert, and Chaillevette.

Other religions do not have a place of worship in the town.

Cultural facilities

Etaules has a Public Library located on Charles Hervé street.

Saintongeais language

Map showing the linguistic area of Saintongeais in Charentes and North-Gironde

The commune is located in the linguistic area of Saintonge, a dialect belonging to the family of Langues d'oïl branch of the Romance languages, which also includes French, Angevin, Picard, and Poitevin with which it is often grouped in the broader classification of Poitevin-Saintongeais.

Saintongeais (saintonjhais) is the vernacular spoken in the former provinces of Aunis, Saintonge, and Angoumois. It is also called Charentais or patois Charentais. Speakers are called patoisants. Saintongeais strongly influenced Acadian and therefore, by extension, Cajun. Quebecois was influenced by dialects such as Norman, Francien, and Saintongeais.

The Saintongeais language has many features in common with languages such as Cajun or Acadian which is explained by the Saintonge origins of some of the emigrants to New France in the 17th century.

Gastronomy

Saintonge gastronomy is mainly focused on three types of products: the products of the land, the sea, and the vine.

Pork preparations dominate the regional cuisine:

• gratons or grillons, kinds of Rillettes based on fried meats and preserved in their fat,
• gigorit or gigourit, a Jugging combining blood, throat, liver, and onions, sauce de la pire, onions, and local white wine.[13]

Oysters from Marennes-Oléron basin.

The Saintonge kitchen includes many recipes for cagouilles, the local name of the brown garden snail. Saintonge meat is especially cooked "à la charentaise" - i.e. cooked in a broth accented with white wine, garlic, and bread crumbs.

Among other local specialties there are the pibales (Eels) (fry of eel caught in the Gironde, speciality of Mortagne-sur-Gironde and Blaye), oysters from Marennes-Oléron, sardines of Royan, thyeusses de gueurnouilles (Frog legs), and sanglette - a cake prepared with chicken blood and cooked onions.

Traditional desserts are from peasant cuisine: Millas (cornflour cake, found in much of the South-West of France), galette charentaise (Charente waffle) in Charentes-Poitou butter, or "merveilles" (doughnuts).

Etaules is located in the wine production area of "ordinary wood".