The Amiénois

In the middle of the estuary, looking out from Talmont, you can still spot at low tide two little black dots: these are what is left of the masts of the Armiénois. This cargo ship weighing 5,000 tons was requisitioned by the French army in April 1940. On the night of the 24th of June, while an armistice was being signed with Germany, the ship, loaded with anti-aircraft guns, was abandoned and sunk 11 metres underwater, so as not to fall into German hands. Legend has it that some of its cargo - barrels of port and rum - floated out onto the river, much to the joy of the locals!

The ship still lies below the mud. Its two masts, which had been visible for more than 40 years, were destroyed by the storms of 1984 and 1988. Since 2003, a black and yellow buoy marks the position of the wreck to avoid collisions with other boats.