Saint-Martin-d’Ardèche gendarmerie uses local school for summer security

In Saint-Martin-d’Ardèche, the local gendarmerie has established a seasonal presence within a primary school to manage the significant summer population surge. For over 50 years, this tradition has addressed the village's demographic shift, where the population grows from approximately 1,000 residents in winter to between 7,000 and 8,000 during July and August.

The current summer brigade consists of ten members, including two professionals and eight reservists, who use the school facilities as both daytime offices and nighttime lodging. This deployment focuses on security and prevention in the highly frequented gorge areas. Mayor Daniel Archambault noted that the presence of the gendarmes is indispensable for the southern Ardèche region, helping to reduce incivilities and manage the influx of tourists.