Le Pollet District

The Poltais, as residents of Le Pollet are called, developed their own distinct dialect and culinary traditions over centuries. Their isolation on the right bank of the river created such a unique culture that recipes prepared 'a la poltaise' still feature fish-based dishes passed down through generations of fishing families.

Le Pollet was once believed to have been founded as a Venetian trading post in medieval times, similar to Venice's establishment in Bruges. This romantic theory, proposed by historian Louis Vitet in the 19th century, suggested Italian merchants created this riverside settlement, though modern historians now link the name to local Norman place-name patterns instead.

The largest of the 'gobes' cave dwellings was a remarkable underground complex of 50 meters deep, located directly beneath the Notre-Dame de Bonsecours chapel. This labyrinthine space took half an hour to walk through completely, and before becoming home to impoverished fishing families, these caves were used by smugglers to hide contraband salt, tobacco, and porcelain brought in from the sea at night.