'We spend whole nights awake': French village hits out at Airbnb party houses driving residents to despair

READ MORE: The 28 British beaches where you can ACTUALLY escape the crowds - from secret coves to shores 'at the end of the world'Want to holiday like a travel expert? Get free access to this subscriber article about the best Greek islands to visit (and the worst ones to avoid) when you sign up HERE to the Escape newsletterSee more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 05:42 EDT, 18 August 2026 | Updated: 05:44 EDT, 18 August 2026 Locals in a picturesque French mountain village have hit out at rowdy Airbnb guests, claiming late-night parties and noise are taking a toll on residents' 'mental health'.La Bresse, nestled in the Vosges mountains, is famed for its stunning scenery and sweeping views.But two large chalets, which can accommodate 15 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, hen dos and stag dos.Residents say the gatherings have brought late-night music, shouting and excessive noise, with some claiming they are regularly kept awake into the early hours. Residents in France's La Bresse have hit out at rowdy Airbnb guestsAnnick Vaxelaire, a spokeswoman for locals trying to bring back a sense of calm, said according to The Times: 'The houses are very close to each other, so we hear everything.'We spend whole nights awake listening to young people shouting. It started eight years ago and it is having an impact on our mental health.' Airbnb does not permit parties or disruptive gatherings, but many guests ignore these rules. In response to the disruption, the group has put up a banner labelling the region as a 'quiet zone', saying: 'Do not disturb.' Pierre Mengin, the mayor, held a meeting of officials, holiday rental home owners and local residents to voice concerns.Annick added: 'We are not against tourism. We want tourism but we are calling for a virtuous form of tourism that respects our tranquillity.' It comes amid a wave of similar problems across France and Europe in general, with plenty of disgruntled residents saying the rise in holiday rentals has had a negative impact. In the UK, earlier this year an accountant who turned her leafy Cheshire home into a £1,400-a-night luxury Airbnb 'party house' was ordered to shut it down – after neighbours said their lives were made a misery by raucous hen parties. Similarly, this summer an unauthorised Airbnb party pad charging up to £1,000-a-night was ordered to shut down after neighbours endured stag and hen revellers 'screaming, swearing and partying until 4am'. The previously quiet region in France has been disrupted by touristsOne local, whose bedroom was just metres from the property's hot tub, recalled guests blasting music, setting off fireworks and screaming in the garden until as late as 4am.She shared recordings of inebriated partygoers shouting and swearing in the hot tub in the early hours, and told how she was repeatedly jolted awake. While French President Macron implemented a 2024 law aimed at combatting the rise in short-term rentals, the issue is still ongoing.Under this decree, residents' associations in flats can vote to prevent neighbours putting properties on the holiday rental market.In addition, mayors have the power to limit holiday homes if they cause unrest.The Daily Mail has contacted Airbnb for comment.