Carrelets

Dotted along the banks of the Gironde Estuary are circa 400 wooden fishing huts which have been built on stilts. Their main implement is a square pulley-operated net (or “filet carré”) which has given the humble shacks their name “carrelets”.

Carrelets are sometimes elaborate and often colourful structures which are often reached via precarious walkways. They appear somewhat flimsy and have in the past suffered due to severe storms although invariably they are rebuilt by their owners.

They make interesting photographic subjects, I photographed these near the village of Talmont sur Gironde and will no doubt be tackling some others.