The carrelets are part of the landscape and heritage of Charente-Maritime. They are large, square fishing nets suspended above the water and connected to picturesque wooden huts on stilts. This hand-operated fishing system operates at high tide, with a winch that lowers the net into the sea and then raises it, by a counterweight effect, using a pulley. These fishing huts belong to the maritime public domain, which is responsible for issuing their owners with permits to operate for a 5-year period.
Along the Gironde estuary and on the Charente coast, these colourful huts are everywhere. They can be found on the Grande Côte cliff at Saint-Palais-sur-Mer, or on the Fouras coastal path, along the Source du Paradis path. You can also admire them in Talmont-sur-Gironde or in Meschers-sur-Gironde, on Madame Island and Oléron Island, or simply on a walk along a seaside path. With the sun and the light, they form sublime scenes to the delight of walkers and photographers...
