L'ancienne gare du Chapus

Descriptif

Commissioned in 1889, it closed in 1971. This line enabled tourists from Paris to arrive by rail at the foot of the Ile d'Oléron. But at the beginning of the 20th century, the journey to Oleron was not over yet!



Once at the terminus, tourists had to board boats bound for Château d'Oléron or St Trojan les Bains. Five boats from the "Compagnie Oléronnaise", founded by André Bouineau, rotated between the mainland and the island. And when the sea was too low, the boats docked at the foot of Fort Louvois, to gain a few meters. At this point, the often slippery submersible roadway had to be used. Rails running parallel to the pedestrian walkway allowed wagons to carry luggage and small goods to the boat.



The crossing was short, lasting around 20 minutes, and the river was often calm.



The station no longer operates, and the building cannot be visited.