Plage des chalets, Mediterranean beach with stilt houses in Gruissan, France
Plage des Chalets is a beach along the Mediterranean coast featuring approximately 1,300 wooden houses built on stilts. The colorful structures stand in organized rows directly along the waterfront and define the entire character of this seaside location.
The first houses appeared in the mid-1800s when seaside bathing became fashionable. Residents rebuilt these structures on stilts after storms to protect them from water damage.
The wooden houses define how this community uses and enjoys the shoreline, with residents and visitors treating the beach as an extension of daily life. The colorful structures create a distinctive way of living that draws people year-round to experience this particular coastal lifestyle.
Free parking areas line the beachfront, making it easy to arrive with a car. The water stays shallow for quite a distance, which is helpful for families with young children.
Most residents pay usage fees to the government because their houses sit on public maritime land. Around 300 homes are exceptions, as their owners hold private land rights.
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