The locals in a picturesque French mountain village have been arguing Airbnb guests claim that late-night parties and noise are taking their toll on residents’ ‘mental health’.
Located in the Vosges mountains, La Bresse is famous for its breathtaking landscapes and far-reaching views.
But two large chalets, which can accommodate fifteen and eight guests respectively, have transformed parts of the village into a magnet for party groups.
The properties have attracted groups of young people over the past eight years, with guests booking them for birthday celebrations, stag and hen parties.
Residents say the gatherings have involved late-night music, shouting and excessive noise, and some claim they are regularly kept awake until the early hours.
Residents of La Bresse, France have argued with noisy Airbnb guests
Annick Vaxelaire, a spokeswoman for locals trying to restore a sense of calm, said according to The Times: ‘The houses are very close together, so we hear everything.
‘We lie awake all nights listening to young people screaming. It started eight years ago and it is having an impact on our mental health.”
Airbnb does not allow parties or disruptive gatherings, but many guests ignore these rules.
In response to the disruption, the group has hung a banner labeling the region as a ‘quiet zone’ with the text: ‘Do not disturb.’
Pierre Mengin, the mayor, held a meeting of officials, holiday home owners and local residents to express their concerns.
Annick added: ‘We are not against tourism. We want tourism, but we call for a virtuous form of tourism that respects our tranquility.’
It comes amid a wave of similar problems across France and Europe in general, with many disgruntled residents saying the rise in holiday rentals has had a negative impact.
In Britain earlier this year, an accountant transformed her leafy Cheshire home into a The £1,400-a-night luxury Airbnb party house was ordered to close – after neighbors said their lives were made hell by raucous stag parties.
Also this summer Unauthorized Airbnb party venue charging up to £1,000 per night ordered closed after neighbors put through stag and hen parties revelers ‘shouting, cursing and partying until 4am’.
The previously quiet region in France has been disrupted by tourists
A local resident, whose bedroom was just meters from the property’s hot tub, recalled guests playing music, setting off fireworks and shouting in the garden until 4am.
She shared recordings of drunken partygoers shouting and swearing in the hot tub in the early hours, and told how she was repeatedly jolted awake.
While the French president Macron has introduced a 2024 law to combat the rise in short-term rentals; the issue is still ongoing.
Under this decree, apartment residents’ associations can vote to prevent neighbors from placing homes on the holiday rental market.
In addition, mayors have the authority to restrict holiday homes if they cause unrest.
The Daily Mail has contacted Airbnb for comment.
