Cancale, oyster capital of France
Mining the food of love since the Roman invasion
Alex Q. Arbuckle
c. 1900
Credit: ND/Roger Viollet/Getty Images
Located on France’s northwestern coast, the town of Cancale has been considered the oyster capital of the country for centuries.The picturesque town is fronted by vast muddy flats, which are regularly covered and exposed by the tides. The tidal flow brings immense quantities of nutrients from the sea, making the flats fertile ground for growing oysters.Roman soldiers ate Cancale oysters when they invaded, and Louis XIV was said to have had all his oysters delivered to Versailles from Cancale’s expansive oyster beds.These photos from the turn of the 20th century show the process of a day’s work for the Cancalais, as men take to the sea in fishing boats at high tide and women harvest, sort and wash the oysters at low tide.
The fishing caravan departs at high tide.
Credit: ND/Roger Viollet/Getty Images
The departure of the caravan at dawn.
Credit: CAP/Roger Viollet/Getty Images
Children pick through the oyster beds.
Credit: CAP/Roger Viollet/Getty Images
The caravan fishing at sea.
Credit: CAP/Roger Viollet/Getty Images
The oyster beds.
Credit: ND/Roger Viollet/Getty Images
Credit: ND/Roger Viollet/Getty Images
Women and children in the oyster beds.
Credit: ND/Roger Viollet/Getty Images
The sorting of the oysters.
Credit: ND/Roger Viollet/Getty Images
The washing of the oysters.
Credit: ND/Roger Viollet/Getty Images
Credit: ND/Roger Viollet/Getty Images
Credit: ND/Roger Viollet/Getty Images
Credit: ND/Roger Viollet/Getty Images
Credit: CAP/Roger Viollet/Getty Images
Credit: CAP/Roger Viollet/Getty Images
Credit: ND/Roger Viollet/Getty Images
Credit: ND/Roger Viollet/Getty Images
Credit: ND/Roger Viollet/Getty Images
Women and children sort through oysters.
Credit: ND/Roger Viollet/Getty Images
As the tide rises, the caravan returns from fishing.
Credit: ND/Roger Viollet/Getty Images
The pier and lighthouse of the Fenetre.
Credit: CAP/Roger Viollet/Getty Images
Fishermen return from sea.
Credit: ND/Roger Viollet/Getty Images
