Charente / Vendee Beaches

For a beach holiday this area of France gives you  many options. The weather is almost as good as that of the Cote D’Azur, so a good beach holiday in the main summer season is usually assured.  The whole of the west coast from St Nazaire south to the Gironde estuary is beach almost all the way, mostly backed by pine forests.  You do need to be careful here in the water as the Atlantic breakers roll in mercilessly.  For quieter waters head round towards Royan in the Gironde estuary.

We give you our preferences to help you decide which is most suited to you:

  - La Tranche-sur-Mer       - Les Sables-d'Olonne        - St Georges-de-Didonne

  - St Gilles-Croix-de-Vie    - St Jean-de-Monts            - St Palais-sur-Mer

Location: The most southerly of the main Vendeean beach resorts, facing the Ile de Ré.

General Info: Website

Description: Offering as much as 13km of fine sandy coastline spread over several different southerly facing beaches La Tranche-Sur-Mer has an enviable position.  Inland the pine forests offer many walking and cycling trails - bikes for hire locally.

Our recommendations: For a break from the beach, try a cycle ride in the forests, or a day trip to Ile de Ré or La Rochelle.

For the children: This resort is more sheltered than those facing directly west but you should still take care of the children in the strong Atlantic breakers and currents.

External websites offering information on the Vendee and Charente Maritime:

- Holidays France Atlantic Website
- Le Charente

- Angela Bird's website on the Vendée

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