Mortagne-sur-Gironde

Mortagne-sur-Gironde is a commune in the Charente-Maritime department in southwestern France. Its inhabitants are called the Mortagnais and Mortagnaises.

Bordering the banks of the Gironde estuary, this small town was for centuries a principality, a title it acquired after the Hundred Years War, but ended up losing by escheat. Being an important military stronghold, it also became a leading port in the 18th century, with the Gironde port bein ranked third in the middle of the 20th century, before declining gradually. The town now relies mainly on tourism, and remains a relatively active fishing port.

The city is divided into two distinct entities: the old city, camped on a cliff, is organized around its church and some shopping streets, while the port, below, is lined with old mills.