Le village de Chaucre

You won't be able to resist the charm of this small village with its narrow streets, numerous wells and traditional houses with outside staircases. And don't forget the cantons with their flowering wells.



Its name is attributed to the word "Chancre", which means "crab" in the local dialect, recalling the presence of a nearby rocky area where eels and crabs thrive.



Chancrins have long relied on the shoreline to improve their livelihoods through fishing on foot or in locks - alternating with vineyards and agriculture. A "rue des naufrageurs" (shipwreckers' street) also bears witness to their enduring reputation as former shipwreck raiders...



The village is a condensed version of the island's traditional habitat. The wells are a reminder that fresh water is the first necessity. You'll find one in rue de la Bardelle. A few dozen meters further on, in the rue du Vieux Chaucre, several wineries confirm the importance of the vineyard. Their wide openings are flanked by arched windows that once opened onto the wine press.



The neux-crottes alleyway, the rue du four and the rue de l'école, lined with several houses with high attics accessed by an outside staircase, also deserve attention.



One of the village's curiosities is its famous 19th-century bread oven, one of the few public ovens still in operation on the island - on "fête du pain" days.