?quihen-Plage: Where Residents Live in Upside-Down Boat Houses Crafted from Discarded Boats

Throughout history, writers have envisioned the world in various ways, as exemplified by works like "Gulliver's Travels", which shows the world filled with tiny people less than 6 inches.

However, unlike the imagined worlds in literature, there exists a place in reality that goes beyond mere imagination.

This French village of ?quihen-Plage stands out with its upside-down houses, locally known as the "Quiles-en-Lair."

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Repurpose discarded boats

Nestled along the seashore, the exceptional village of ?quihen-Plage, located on the English Channel in northern France, boasts distinctive architecture.

Inhabited by a modest population of 3,000, the village is home to upside-down boat houses.

Remarkably, residents have ingeniously repurposed discarded boats and inverted them to create their unique dwellings.

How did residents make upside-down boat houses?

During the early 20th century, Equihen Plage was predominantly a fishing village recognised for constructing sizable fishing boats from tree trunks. These boats were then launched into the sea, a customary practice in dry harbors.

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Now, in Equihen Plage, old boats were transported to elevated positions, inverted, and coated with bitumen to shield against water infiltration from above.

Following this, doors were added to the sides, although the interiors retained a subdued illumination.

The interiors of the boat houses consist of a singular elongated room, serving as areas for both communal cooking and sleeping areas.

Despite the destruction of numerous boathouses in World War II, the tradition persisted. In the 1990s, locals made concerted efforts to revitalise their heritage by constructing several inverted boat houses, aiming to attract tourists.

Presently, these distinctive abodes are open for rental, offering visitors an exceptional and memorable experience.

Unusual places

The tradition of crafting upside-down boat houses not only preserves the village's heritage but also presents a unique blend of history and hospitality, inviting travelers to immerse themselves in an extraordinary coastal experience.

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