Aire de camping-cars Port du Bec, Oyster port in Bouin, France.
Le Port du Bec is an oyster port along the Dain creek, with around a hundred wooden pontoons distributed on both sides of the waterway. More than two hundred boats use the facilities, with professional fishermen and oyster farmers making up the majority of users.
The port was relocated in 1761 and again in 1882 due to silting problems that made it hard to operate. Over time, the site became recognized as an important place in the region's historical records.
Locals call this place the Chinese Port because of how the wooden structures and boats resemble ports in Asia. This nickname reflects how the unusual design has captured people's imagination over time.
The port is best explored on foot, with clear paths along the pontoons for walking around. The best light and clearest views of the boats and activity happen in early morning before the sun gets too high.
The interwoven wooden pontoons allow fishermen to unload large amounts of cuttlefish and sole each day. This time-tested design has become essential to how the local fishing trade operates.
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