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Video length: 5 min.
On the island of Yeu, in Vendée, the fishermen’s houses are particularly popular with tourists. But their prices prevent local inhabitants from accessing them.
In Vendée, the island of Yeu seduces tourists, with its houses with whitewashed walls and colorful shutters. “These are houses essentially made for sailors (…) they are very utilitarian houses“, explains Jean-François Henry, historian. The shutters were painted the same color as the boats with the remnants of paint, which is why they are all different. To keep their cachet, the houses must be maintained.
Very high prices
The houses are now owned by tourists, who come to spend the summer on the island. Their prices can reach staggering sums. Some inhabitants of the Ile d’Yeu find it difficult to find year-round accommodation. “In winter we manage to find accommodation for a few months, but in summer people come to their house (…) so you have to leave with all your belongings.“, indicates Lionelle Arnaud, resident of the island of Yeu. In one year, she moved five times. A collective was formed to fight against these situations.