Catherine and Jean-Marie face the devastating loss of their seaside garden, which was swallowed by the ocean during a storm. Reflecting on cherished memories, including their childhood meeting spot, they express anguish over the imminent threat of erosion. As local residents struggle to protect their homes, the couple seeks assistance, but rising costs for coastal defenses leave them feeling helpless. Their hope rests on uniting with neighbors to share the financial burden of safeguarding their community.
The Heartbreaking Story of a Couple’s Lost Paradise
“We have never encountered a chasm like this,” expresses Catherine, her brows knitted in concern, as she stands beside Jean-Marie. Still reeling from the recent disaster, the couple stares in disbelief at the vast void that has replaced their once-beloved garden. During a tempestuous night, a staggering 100 m² of their yard, situated just steps from the beach in La Tranche-sur-Mer, was engulfed by the ocean, leaving nothing but a gaping hole where their terrace used to be.
“We had a bench, a table, and cozy chairs… we enjoyed our time overlooking the sea… Now, it’s all gone,” Catherine recounts, her voice heavy with emotion. The couple’s plight has been highlighted in a recent video feature that chronicles the efforts of local residents and officials to protect their cherished coastline from the relentless forces of erosion. “This is a disaster for us, but it also affects everything behind us,” Jean-Marie remarks, gesturing toward the homes below.
Memories and Fears Amidst Erosion
“We first met here as children back in 1962,” Catherine reminisces, holding a photograph of their house taken just a year after it was built. “I was playing on a swing at my parents’ place, and Jean-Marie caught a glimpse of me from his window,” she shares. As she flips through her photo album, she points to a snapshot of her grandchildren on the terrace from April 2023. “That space doesn’t exist anymore,” she says, her voice breaking as tears threaten to spill.
With another exceptionally high tide on the horizon, the couple’s anxiety mounts. “It’s another wave of worry,” Catherine sighs. Feeling powerless, they have reached out to local authorities for urgent assistance. In front of their home, large rocks and sandbags have been hastily deployed over a stretch of more than a hundred meters. “It’s a bit comforting. We just have to keep our fingers crossed that this makes a difference,” Catherine comments, her voice wavering.
The cost of robust coastal defenses is staggering—estimated at a minimum of three million euros per kilometer. However, with the enormity of the project, the government has opted not to fund expensive protective measures, instead relying on a centuries-old law that places the responsibility for property protection on the homeowners themselves. Consequently, many residents of La Tranche-sur-Mer have resorted to constructing their own protective barriers, such as deep-driven sheet piles topped with rocks. “It’s both a practical and visually appealing solution,” observes Catherine while examining a neighbor’s setup.
While these measures offer some hope, they come with a hefty price tag. For Catherine and Jean-Marie, the expenses could reach up to 200,000 euros. “If we had won the lottery and had that amount, we would be ready to invest right away… but unfortunately, that’s not our reality,” Jean-Marie laments. “It’s simply not feasible for us to shoulder this financial burden alone,” Catherine asserts.
The couple’s final hope lies in rallying their neighbors to come together and collectively share the costs, aiming to safeguard their entire community from the unyielding encroachment of the ocean.