Carry le Rouet
9-10 January 2007
This small town of 6000 residents began as a shipping point for stone quarried nearby during the Roman era (200 AD), officially becoming a community in 1584. Under the control of a few dominant families for the next 200 years the town saw limited growth. With construction of a railroad in 1915 and the influx of rich Marseilles traders the town grew during the 20th century.
With the end of French rule in Algiers an influx of “repatriates” and more well-to-do Marseilles creates a real estate boom with grand villas springing up along the coastline.
A small port is the centerpiece of the “downtown”,
marred somewhat by one incongruous apartment tower.
An extensive coastal nature trail wanders along the shore for about 10 km.
We think the town‘s major claim to fame is the fact that the famous French movie star, from the thirties to the fifties, Fernandel, built a grandiose summer home here in 1933. Here he would relax, fish, play pétanque, and drink pastis with friends. During WW II he moved his family here, apparently to increase their safety.
For us it was a stopping place where we found a 4 star campground at half price (22 Euros) and recharged all our electrical toys and goodies. We saw lots of evidence of security companies (even the campground has a card controlled pneumatic post that rises out of the earth to keep out “les voleurs”) so there is lots of money in this town.
This small town of 6000 residents began as a shipping point for stone quarried nearby during the Roman era (200 AD), officially becoming a community in 1584. Under the control of a few dominant families for the next 200 years the town saw limited growth. With construction of a railroad in 1915 and the influx of rich Marseilles traders the town grew during the 20th century.
With the end of French rule in Algiers an influx of “repatriates” and more well-to-do Marseilles creates a real estate boom with grand villas springing up along the coastline.
A small port is the centerpiece of the “downtown”,
marred somewhat by one incongruous apartment tower.
An extensive coastal nature trail wanders along the shore for about 10 km.
We think the town‘s major claim to fame is the fact that the famous French movie star, from the thirties to the fifties, Fernandel, built a grandiose summer home here in 1933. Here he would relax, fish, play pétanque, and drink pastis with friends. During WW II he moved his family here, apparently to increase their safety.
For us it was a stopping place where we found a 4 star campground at half price (22 Euros) and recharged all our electrical toys and goodies. We saw lots of evidence of security companies (even the campground has a card controlled pneumatic post that rises out of the earth to keep out “les voleurs”) so there is lots of money in this town.
posted by Retired and on the Move | 6:38 AM
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