Cabane Tchanquée n°53, Wooden cabin on stilts in Arcachon Bay, France
Cabane Tchanquée n°53 is a wooden cabin painted white with matching shutters, standing on tall stilts above the waters of Arcachon Bay. The structure rises from the bay floor, anchored firmly to withstand tidal movements and weather.
The cabin was built in 1948 by deputy mayor Monsieur Longau to replace an earlier structure from 1883 that was destroyed by a severe storm in 1943. The reconstruction marked an effort to restore traditions after this major damage.
The cabin reflects traditional oyster farming in the bay, where these elevated huts allowed workers to manage their beds through tidal changes. The style and method remain part of local fishing life today, showing how people adapted their work to the water's rhythm.
The cabin is reachable only by boat through organized excursions from Arcachon Port or Port de Le Moulleau. Trip times vary with tides and weather, so visitors should check departure schedules ahead of their visit.
The cabin is one of only two remaining elevated huts from an original group of more than fifty wooden structures on Île aux Oiseaux. These survivors show how fragile these traditional buildings are against time and natural forces.
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