Mention France and you may instantly think of culture, fashion, history and wine – but there is a fifth element missing here. With more than 3,000 miles of coastline, the country has many a seaside attraction to draw in the tourist. Starting at Guînes, near Calais in the north, and finishing in the village of Agay near Cannes in the south, there are plenty of options for coastal connoisseurs.
Guînes
Being close to both Calais (six miles) and Boulogne (21 miles), Guînes is both an ideal first stop after crossing the Channel and for exploring the beautiful Côte d'Opale (Opal Coast). Stretching for some 75 miles (120km) between Calais and Berck-sur-Mer, the Opal Coast’s beaches, dunes and cliffs are worthy of discovery.
A mecca for sports such as surfing, hiking, cycling, fishing, horse riding and golf, the area also boasts the historic marshlands of Audomarois – part of the stunning Caps et Marais d’Opale Regional Nature Park, which is home to an abundance of rare and endangered birds and insects. Sticking with wildlife, may we also recommend Europe’s largest aquarium, Nausicaá, in Boulogne, where you will find thousands of marine species?
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Saint-Quentin-en-Tourmont
Some 65 miles south-west of Guînes, Saint-Quentin-en-Tourmont sits between Calais and Le Havre in the Somme department of northern France. With a number of clean, sandy beaches nearby, families will be in their element here, while budding David Attenboroughs will find themselves drawn to Park Marquenterre, a dune, marshland and forest reserve that attracts some 300 species of migrating birds including purple heron, spotted crake and egret. Continuing the wildlife theme, seals can be observed in their natural habitat at Pointe du Hourdel, while Escargotière du Marquenterre is a farm dedicated to snails, offering tours and tastings.
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Saint-Aubin-des-Préaux
Moving onto Normandy in north-west France, the village of Saint-Aubin-des-Préaux is just a short drive from a delightful stretch of coastline. The seaside resort of Granville with its long, sandy beach and 19th century villas should be on your itinerary, as should the iconic tidal island and abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel, one of the jewels in Normandy’s glittering crown, some 24 miles south. The most visited tourist attraction in France outside of Paris, this island (and its surrounding bay) was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979, and with very good reason. A stunning bridge was built in 2014 to make access to and from Mont-Saint-Michel easier.
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Saint-Brevin-Les-Pins
Some 35 miles west of Nantes, Saint-Brevin-Les-Pins lies on the Côte de Jade (Jade Coast) in the Loire-Atlantique region. Don’t be startled on your first visit here by what looks like a giant skeleton of a sea serpent lying scarily in wait in the shallow waters off Saint-Brevin-Les-Pins. This 130m-long monster, called Le Serpent D’Océan, is actually an amazing aluminium sculpture by Chinese-French artist Huang Yong Ping. Less frightening, there are numerous lovely beaches hereabouts waiting for you and your family to enjoy paddling in the sea and building sand castles.
Just over an hour’s drive south, located in the Bay of Biscay, the island of Noirmoutier with its sandy beaches, 12th-century Château de Noirmoutier and Sealand Aquarium is worthy of your attention – be warned, though, that access via the impressive Passage du Gois causeway is limited to low
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Hourtin-Plage
Heading now into south-west France, Hourtin-Plage is a stunning sandy beach which runs for six unimpeded miles along the Atlantic coast. Just over seven miles from the town of Hourtin, this beach is not only family-friendly, it is a prime spot for fans of surfing, bodyboarding and kitesurfing.
Providing the perfect end to the perfect day at the seaside, breathtaking sunsets are very much part of the standard fare here. Hourtin is within the famous Médoc wine region, so you’re guaranteed a nice bottle or two during your stay.
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Saint-Émilion
Saint-Émilion is a fascinating medieval city near Bordeaux, in the heart of the renowned Libournais wine region. You can’t fail to find a bottle of red that tickles your tastebuds here. The city and the surrounding vineyards were made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, owing not only to the region’s history of world-class wine making, but also Saint-Émilion’s Romanesque churches and ruins that stretch along its attractive steep and narrow streets. If sandy shores rather than vine-covered hills are more your thing, drive an 90 minutes or so west to the Atlantic coast, where you are handsomely rewarded by a number of beaches.
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Labenne-Océan
In Labenne you are just 43 miles from the border with Spain. The soft and inviting sands of the Labenne-Océan beach stretch for nearly two miles, so whether you are a sandcastle constructor, sunbather, surfer or swimmer, you can while away a relaxing, long, sunny day here. Should you be looking for something more adventurous and active, the Landes pine forest boasts a plethora of trails ideal for hikers and mountain bikers alike. Seasonal markets in Labenne give you the opportunity to return home with some tasty and crafty reminders of your French sojourn.
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Urrugne
Just seven miles or so from the Spanish border, the village of Urrugne in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department is close to the most south-westerly point of mainland France. Part of the traditional Basque province of Labourd, Urrugne not only has the ocean for company but is also in the shadow of the first mountains of the Pyrenees, making it the ideal outdoor playground.
Once you’re tired from swimming and surfing or hiking and mountain biking, enjoy the peace and solitude of the Chapel of Socorri (or Notre Dame de Socorri) atop the hill overlooking Urrugne – a popular place of pilgrimage, this 17th-century chapel offers stunning panoramic views.
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Agay
Sandwiched between Saint-Tropez and Cannes, two popular playgrounds of the rich and famous on the French Riviera (Côte d’Azur), Agay is a fitting place to end this ‘tour’.
Located in one of the most beautiful natural harbours on France’s southern coast with the vibrant red rocks of the stunning Esterel Massif as a backdrop, Agay is served by three fabulous sandy beaches and plenty of shops and restaurants. Add the small marina of Port d’Agay and Le Rastel d’Agay, a mountain path with hiking trails and sweeping sea views, into the equation, and Agay makes for a fabulous holiday destination.
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