France has over 2000 miles of beaches and by using GiteSearch’s search facilities you can find the ideal costal property to give you a seaside holiday to remember.
Starting in the north of France, there are long sandy and pebble beaches facing the channel interspersed with high chalk cliffs – the same chalk that forms the White Cliffs at Dover. These beaches have large stretches of sand and are often backed by dunes.
The pebble beach of Cayeux-sur-Mer, set in the Bay of Somme, is named after the old Picard name for a pebble. The resort boasts a wooden shore path lined with 400 beach houses.
If pebbles aren’t your idea of a beach, try Le Crotoy. Discover this charming village which is situated in the Bay of Somme and is famous for its long white sandy beach and its lively harbour.
As we head further south we start to see the famous beaches of Normandy. A holiday in this area has the added attraction of visiting the sites of the Normany Invasion. These beaches and long wide stretches of sand which is the very reason they were chosen during WW2 as the place to launch the invasion. There are too many to single out and each has its own history to tell.
Further south still, we arrive in Brittany where you will find some spectacular rocky cliffs and coves. Seaside villages nestle within small coves and natural harbours. One village worthy of a mention is Ploumanac’h. This village has sandy coves hidden behind pink granite rocks. It “rock pooling” is a holiday favourite then this is the place for you. Try entering in Cotes D’Armor as a department in GiteSearch and see the range of properties in the area.
Leaving the rocking coast of Brittany behind we travel south along the Atlantic coast. Running from the Vendee in the north to Aquitaine in the south, this coast has long, very long, stretches of sandy beaches backed by sand dunes and pine forests. Dotted with both large seaside towns and small villages this coast provides locations for memorable family holidays. The Vendee has some wonderful sandy beaches with small villages lined with restaurants such as Jard Sur Mer. The town of Les Sable d’Olonne is well worth a visit. Gitesearch as some very well placed properties to take advantage of this area.
Between the Vendee and the Spanish border, we find endless stretches of sandy beaches and even the biggest sand dune in Europe. Located at the entrance to the bay of Arcachon, the Dune du Pilat is over 300 feet high and two miles long. The seaside towns and villages around the bay are popular settings for traditional seaside holidays. The seafront at Arcachon is packed with restaurants and, of course, seafood features in every menu.
France’s most iconic coast must be the South of France. Stretching from the Spanish border in the west to the principality of Monaco in the East the coast can be divided in half. From the Spanish border to Marsellies the coast is composed of sandy beaches. These are not as wide as the the Atlantic and northern beaches due to the low tidal range of the meditaranean – the water is warmer though. Try searching in the Region of Languedoc Roussillon for great family holiday properties.
Finally, there is the Coast to the East of Marsellies. Here the coast is rocky with sandy and pebble cove beaches. There are of course the renowned beaches of Saint Tropez and Cannes to name but two.
The south coast is extremely popular both with foreign visitors and the French alike. If this is your intended destination it would be wise to book well ahead. Visit the pages of properties on Gitesearch for the region Provence Alpes Cote d’Azur but don’t leave it too late.
The best beach in France is the one that suits your family the best. The weather is usually the deciding factor. The further south you travel from the UK the warmer it will be. Choose the heat that suits your family – this applies both to the air temperature and the water.
Header image copyright FreeImages.com/Claude Coquilleau.
