The book “Arès La Belle, 1950s” captures the summer holidays of a coastal city in full change

Tuesday August 12, Gérard Simmat will dedicate his latest work “Arès La Belle, 1950s” at the Maison de la Presse. In addition, This book is on the changes in French society. Furthermore, “It is a period of improvement in living conditions. Nevertheless, The city welcomes vacationers from all over the country. In addition, They took advantage of a third week of paid leave from 1956, ”explains Gérard Simmat.

Except for the cover, this work is essentially in black and white. In addition, For the author, this choice is linked to the time. Additionally, In addition, “It is characteristic of this period, if only for the air views that explode in French cartophilia. Nevertheless, »»

Arès as evidence – Book "arès la belle, 1950s"

Gérard Simmat began to take an interest in the story of Arès. the Arcachon basin thanks to postcards. He wanted to link the image and the book “arès la belle, 1950s” text. “I realized that there was historians on one side who wrote with small references to each page. And you had no illustration. And on the other side, you had postcards collectors who just put legends on postcards. The work I did (I am not the only one) made it possible to make bridges between the two. »»

When asked why Arès, it seems obvious to him. “It is my wife Chantal, who is from here. This year we are celebrating the 150th anniversary of its family villa. “Since the year of my birth. I have come to spend every summer in Arès and when we were medical students, with our group of friends we came to spend time,” explains his wife.

This work published in 2024 is one of the 15 books published by Gérard Simmat on the Arcachon basin.

“Arès la Belle, 1950s”, 20 euros. Meet Tuesday August 12, from 9:30 book “arès la belle, 1950s” a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Maison de la Presse, 7 rue de la Plage, reachable at 05 56 26 03 02.