Destination Royan for the holidays at Charente-Maritime... Ready for a ride on the Atlantic coast, discover the region's typical "carrelets"?
The carrelets of the Atlantic fishermen
Along the coastline are small huts linked to the mainland by a wooden pontoon. These are squares, named after the square net used to fish from these emblematic buildings in Charente-Maritime. White, yellow, green, earthy... they contrast with the blue of the sky and the blue of the sea towards which they advance like stilt-walkers. At dusk, their multiple stilts topped by a gangway and their taut net hung from a winch above the void stand out against the horizon and seem to criss-cross the space. You can't miss them - there are so many along the coast! more than 400 and they are now part of the landscape and local curiosities. Braided nylon nets are used to catch prawns and other fish close to the shore. The "carrelet" also refers to this traditional method, which is more accessible than deep-sea fishing.
The carrelets of Royan along the coastal path
To be sure of admiring the carrelets, take the steep path that runs alongside the sea, a path alternately shaded by fragrant pine trees or swept below by the surf of the ocean. You're sure to come across seagulls and crabs between the rocks, but above all the carrelets (small fishing nets) that sometimes seem to cling to the limestone cliffs. Listen to the relaxing sound of the sea, enjoy the invigorating iodised Atlantic air and the spectacle before your eyes. À Royan the carrelets are alone or grouped together in the pointe du Chay which juts out towards the Conche of the same name, to the rocks overlooking those of Le Pigeonnier, Pontaillac and Gilet. They can also be seen further south, near the Conche des Cadets, the port of Meschers-sur-Gironde, the Vergnes beach and the Pointe de Suzac (where you can also admire the fort). Pont du Diable, Puits de l'Auture, Conche du Concié, Corniches de Terre-Nègre... don't miss the superb carrelet spots at Saint-Palais-sur-Mer to the north of Royan.
The history of carrelets in brief
The carrelet first appeared in 1769 in the writings of Henri-Louis Duhamel du Monceau. In it, the physicist and botanist described the method of fishing in the heart of Saintonge, an ancient French province north of the Gironde estuary. He spoke of a «scaffold mounted on rocks» and added a drawing of the one he saw at Saint-Palais-sur-Mer. Royan The first fishermen's huts were built on the Conches de Foncillon and Pontaillac quays in the 1900s. In the 20th century, tourists on holiday in Charente-Maritime turned their attention to the original purpose of the carrelets. They became more sophisticated and more colourful, and from 1950 onwards they were used as second homes. These wooden structures, weakened by the elements, are regularly reinforced and even rebuilt, as they were after «the storm of the century» (Martin, 1999). Since 2018, they have even been listed as a Charente-Maritime heritage site.
Why not take advantage of your visit to Royan to extend your stay in Charente-Maritime ? Océan Vacances at Saint-Georges-de-Didonne in the heart of the Suzac forest is less than 2 km of the finest squares ! What's more, the Village Vacances, which includes a 4* Camping Paradis, gîtes, a hotel, an aquatic centre... is just a few minutes away. 800 metres from the beach and 8 km from Royan. Book accommodation with your family, friends or loved ones today at our campsite near Royan.