A guide to beaches in France
The French coast offers thousands of kilometres of beaches, and an incredible variety of scenery: beaches in the middle of natural reserves, which, due to tidal variations, can consist of a beautiful long stretch of sand, or a collecting of charming coves bordering an island. If you choose to go on holiday by the beach in France, you can be sure it’ll be stunning! Find out about where to paddle in the waters of France’s most popular beaches.
The Mediterranean coast
Holidays near to the waters of the Mediterranean ocean are the most popular, with its sunny weather and warm waters being contributing factors to its popularity. The area is beautiful with various nature reserves and protected sites.
Amongst the most well-known tourist hotspots, the Calanques national park offers walks along the seafront, as well as rock climbing, scuba diving, and sailing. During your holidays in Marseille, you can take part in various walking tours and boat trips, which attract almost two million visitors each year.
The Port Cros national park meanwhile stretches the length of the Massif des Maures, you can enjoy beautiful holidays in Pradit, Hyères, or Lavandou. The diversity of the flora and fauna on the ground as well as under water makes this an amazing part of the country. Along the coast you’ll come across various impressive forts on the top of various hills.
In the Languedoc Roussillon area, you’ll enjoy the stunning Camargue national park, staying in a holiday home near the beach at Saintes Maries de la Mer, or in Grau du Roi.
Further south, you must see the Narbonnaise national park, in the Mediterranean, and its contrasting scenery. If you choose a holiday rental near the water at Leucate, you’ll also be able to admire its huge cliffs. If you decide to stay near the beach at Gruissan, you’ll also be able to enjoy numerous walks to discover lakes, scrubland, and lagoons.
The Atlantic ocean and the Channel
If you like ornithological reserves, oyster farming, and wide sandy beaches, we recommend you try Arcachon! You’ll discover the Parc du Teich, the landscapes of the Landes, and the Arcachon basin, all of which are beautiful.
Brittany offers gorgeous scenery, for example around the Armorique national park, with the superb Iroise Islands which you could explore during a holiday near the beaches of Douarnenez or Crozon.
During a beach holiday on the shores of the Baie de Somme, you can enjoy various water sports as well as some great walks along the length of its preserved coastline. If you choose to stay on the Picardy coast, you’ll benefit from being able to stay near to the waters of Fort Mahon beach, or those of Crotoy.
By Julian
