France has limitless sun-and-sand potential. Within the far north, there are white cliffs and the old style seaside resorts of the English Channel (Manche in French), and over on the Mediterranean coast, the circumstances are good for snorkeling, with heat waters and rocky coves.
Highly effective North Atlantic storms rip aside the rugged coast of Brittany, whereas surfers pull into heaving tubes within the southwest. With so many locations to put down your towel, it may be onerous to know the place to start however don’t fret – here is our choose of the very best seashores in France.
1. Palombaggia, Corsica
Finest seashore in Corsica for households, paradise seekers, and honeymooners
There’s nowhere within the Mediterranean fairly like Corsica. Because of fierce native resistance, robust environmental safety and tight constructing guidelines, the shoreline of this rugged, mountainous island has been spared the rampant tourism overdevelopment that has scarred so many Mediterranean seashores. The result’s an island the place historical coastal forests nonetheless dominate, and dusty footpaths result in serene white sands.
The island has a seashore for each temper, however none could be extra classically lovely than Palombaggia, within the solar lure southeast. Rose-tinged granite boulders, electric-blue waters, stumpy olive bushes and sugar-white sands make it appear to be the French stole this seashore from the Seychelles.
Planning tip: Though it’s typically undeveloped, Palombaggia is much from undiscovered, and in July and August, it may be a battle to search out anyplace to place your towel down. Are available in June or September and early October for some peace.
2. Côte de Granit Rose, Brittany
Finest seashore in northwest France for households, sailors, and seals
Because of a succession of secluded bays and milky blue waters, linked collectively by orange-pink granite boulders piled one upon the opposite like squashed strawberries, the Côte de Granit Rose is without doubt one of the most attractive seascapes in France.
It’s additionally a shoreline seemingly custom-made with beachside enjoyable in thoughts. You may paddle a kayak or a stand-up paddleboard towards rocky outcrops, construct sand castles with the youngsters on low-tide sand bars, hike a family-friendly coastal path and eat shellfish within the fairly harbor village of Ploumanac’h.
3. Les Calanques, Cassis
Finest seashore in Provence & the Côte d’Azur for households, hikers, and dreamers
Calling Les Calanques “seashores” is maybe overstepping the mark. Not likely seashores in any respect; they’re extra a gathering of pebbles and sand set deep right into a sequence of knife slits within the Mediterranean cliffs, massaged by clear, turquoise waters.
Ranging from the western fringe of the seashore city of Cassis, these idyllic coves can solely be reached within the easiest of manners – by boat or on foot, following trails by herb-scented pine woodlands and down steep cliff paths.
There are a number of coves, and most of the people are pleased to spend hours making an attempt to resolve which is their favourite. However one factor unites all of them: a pleasant lack of improvement that makes you consider how the Mediterranean will need to have appeared a century in the past.
4. Porquerolles Island, Hyères
Finest seashore in Provence & the Côte d’Azur for snorkelers, castaways, and households
Now for this reason you got here to the Mediterranean. The car-free, stress-free isle of Porquerolles floats in limpid seas only a brief means offshore of Hyères.
A part of a protected marine conservation space, the island is roofed in Mediterranean woodlands and vineyards and is right for strolling and biking. A string of seashores – considered one of which was voted the very best seashore in Europe in 2015 – offers a refreshing aim to your explorations.
Planning tip: Whereas all the island is beautiful (although very busy in July and August), we propose heading to the remoter south coast if you wish to discover a little bit of quiet.
5. Étretat, Normandy
Finest seashore in Normandy for households, walkers
You’ve heard of the white cliffs of Dover, however on the other facet of the English Channel is Dover’s French twin, the white cliffs of Étretat – they usually’re each bit as spectacular.
The small city of Étretat is a pleasing, old style seaside resort with a large seafront promenade and a pebbly seashore. White chalk cliffs with hats of inexperienced fields bookend both facet of the city and seashore, and over the centuries, the waves have carved some uncommon shapes into these cliffs, together with a powerful white arch and a dramatic needle of rock.
Though the climate won’t at all times cooperate, it is a nice youngsters’ seashore vacation vacation spot and a spot for lengthy clifftop walks adopted by an ice cream on the seafront.
6. Île d’Ouessant, Brittany
Finest seashore on France’s west coast for cyclists, walkers and inspiration seekers
Disembarking from the ferry boat after docking at Brittany’s Île d’Ouessant, you is likely to be forgiven for considering you’ve reached the top of the Earth. And certainly, in days previous, folks did imagine that this wild, storm-tossed island was the final cease on Earth.
Lined in heathland and bounded by a powerful shoreline, this wind-lashed island could be an inviting image of white-sand seashores, touched by the bluest of waters. However a second later, a climate system thunders in, the island turns darkish and sinister, and also you rapidly perceive why its reefs and shoals have claimed so many ships over the centuries.
Regardless of its forbidding nature, Île d’Ouessant is a perfect place to lease a bicycle and peddle down nation lanes, previous fields stuffed with sheep to hidden coves. Though Plage de Corz is a protected, sandy and beautiful seashore, you won’t need to really swim within the usually icy, rip-strewn waters, however simply sit quietly and meditate – on the waves crashing and smashing ashore, and seals enjoying within the swells.
7. Bassin d’Arcachon
Finest seashore within the south of France for sailors, fishers, households, and gourmands
Standing on the summit of Europe’s tallest sand dune, the 102m-high (335ft) Dune du Pilat, you get a way of what an uncommon place the Bassin d’Arcachon is.
A lot of the Atlantic coast of southwest France is an limitless stretch of golden sand battered by violent waves. However the Bassin d’Arcachon is a big round inlet of calm, intensely blue waters (usually deceptively so – in some locations, there are lethal hidden currents) crammed with small islands, shifting white-sand financial institution seashores that may solely be reached by boat and a fringed string of hazy yellow seashores backed by pine bushes.
Whereas there’s no doubting nature’s inventive skills, humankind hasn’t completed too badly, both. There are little picket fishing cabins on stilts far out into the waters of the bassin, and an ensemble of art-deco homes in Arcachon city itself, whereas close by Cap Ferret is taken into account some of the fascinating seashore cities within the southwest. Throw in oysters throughout the area, and you’ve got a spot match for essentially the most discerning sailor, fisher, surfer, or sand citadel builder.
Planning tip: In the event you’re touring with small youngsters and fancy a dip within the sea, you possibly can’t go fallacious with the attractive Plage d’Arcachon. It sits in a sheltered basin that ensures flat, calm waters always.
8. Plage de l’Amour, St-Tropez
Finest seashore on the French Riviera for millionaires and socialites
The shoreline of selection for Hollywood A-listers, pop stars, royalty and anybody who owns a brilliant yacht – can there be a extra glamorous stretch of coast on Earth than the Côte d’Azur’s Gulf of St-Tropez?
You’ll by no means discover a quiet patch of sand within the glitzy coronary heart of the French Riviera, however that’s not why you are actually right here. As an alternative, slide in your sun shades, slip into your finest swimsuit and signal into one of many oh-so-exclusive non-public seashore golf equipment alongside the 5km-long (3-mile) Plage de Pampelonne for the complete French Rivera expertise.
The surprising factor about this most well-known of seashores is that many components really stay remarkably unspoiled and as lovely because the day Brigitte Bardot first introduced worldwide fame to the city – and herself – within the 1956 movie Et Dieu Créa la Femme (And God Created Girl).
9. Grande Plage, Biarritz
Finest seashore in southwest France for surfers, Nineteenth-century royals, households, and foodies
Earlier than the French Riveria stole its limelight, Grande Plage – deep within the far southwest of France, within the beautiful seaside metropolis of Biarritz – was the seashore of selection for the elite and trendy of Europe.
Right now some of the unique lodges in France, the Hôtel du Palais was initially constructed as a summer time palace for Empress Eugénie, spouse of Napoleon III, who used to spend her summers taking the waters in Biarritz. Different members of European royalty quickly adopted; even an unamused Queen Victoria was a daily customer.
After WWII, the main target moved to the Mediterranean, however because the begin of the twenty first century, Biarritz has rediscovered its glam, with a brand new viewers taking to the waters. Right now although, they accomplish that on surfboards, and Biarritz and its environs have gained a well-earned repute as considered one of Europe’s most interesting surf locations.
However you don’t need to be a surfer or a queen to get pleasure from these golden sands. The idyllic summer time local weather, contorted shoreline, robust Basque tradition and soulful Atlantic views make Grande Plage, and Biarritz, a spot everybody falls for.
