Carrelets de Saint-Palais-sur-Mer

The Carrelets de Saint-Palais-sur-Mer are small wooden huts built on stilts above the water with large square nets attached to pulleys. Fishermen lower and raise these nets by hand to catch fish from the sea below.

These fishing structures began to appear in the late 1800s and became much more common after World War II along the Charente-Maritime coast. They represent a long tradition of coastal fishing that continues in this region.

These structures have become symbols of coastal life and gather people who share a connection to traditional fishing practices. They serve as social meeting points where locals and visitors pause to watch the daily rhythm of the sea and the work it sustains.

Visit during low tide when the huts are most accessible and easier to view from the shore. Early morning visits offer the best chance to see fishermen working or notice their catch.

Along the entire Charente-Maritime coast, hundreds of these huts create a distinctive visual pattern that shapes the shoreline. Each one tells its own story and may use different fishing methods despite their similar appearance.