Poitou-Charentes Beaches

The wonderful beaches of Poitou-Charentes are located in the Charente-Maritime.  There are as many as 100 beaches in the Poitou-Charentes, these are along the coast line and on the archipelago of islands, including Ile de Re and which are easily accessible.
Beautiful sunshine, cool blue water, and soft sand.... Whether you are after a beach holiday or simply just a great day out by the sea, then you're spoilt for choice.
All beaches boast long stretches of clean, soft sand and as many are protected, the scenery is unspoilt and quite beautiful.
Most resorts have lifeguard stations during the tourist season, making it guaranteed safe swimming for all.
There are family friendly beaches around Royan, there are many beach clubs where the children can make friends, or have fun on the sands.  The instructors organise all sorts of activities to keep them entertained.
Many beaches have a "handiplage" quality lable which ensures full amenities for people with reduced mobility.  This allows them to offer disabled visitors specially adapted equipment which includes an amphibius wheelchair that has been adapted for swimmng.  You will need to ask for this at the lifeguard station.
The coastline from La Palmyre, north of Royan and stretching north-west around the point of La Tremblade is know as the Côte Sauvage.  Long sandy beaches and pounding waves backed by towering forests of pine - the Côte Sauvage on the Atlantic coast in the Charente-Maritime is one of the most spectacular parts of the Poitou-Charentes. If you want a feeling of space and rugged beauty, this is definitely the place to be. Surfers should also haul their boards into the waves that are known for their size and power, careful though as there is a strong rip. 
There is a lovely scenic drive which takes you between La Palmyre and Ronce-les-Bains, travelling from coast through the forest for approximately 20 km
So, with Family friendly beaches round Royan and the rugged beauty of the Cote Sauvage which the surfers love, there really is something for everybody.
We offer some more information on a selection of beaches in the area:
St Georges-de-Didonne: just south of Royan. Two kilometre long beach with tranquil waters, set between cliffs at one end and a 36m high lighthouse at the other. The beach is fringed by pine forests. There is a  long promenade and walks along the cliff tops giving you breath-taking views. There is also the Parc de l'Estuaire, with its interactive museum, forest walks and educational tours. The beach also has a ‘Handiplage’ designation which means it has some facilities suited for handicapped people including loos and shower.

Grande Conche: in Royan itself.  Two kilometre beach features pretty striped tents and is perfect for bathing. Popular choice for families are Conche Foncillon and Pigeonnier.  Conche de Pontaillac to the west which is more sheltered and can be less crowded and definitely worth a visit.

Côte Sauvage
A great area for surfing, but beware of strong rips.  There are plenty of surf schools where you can get lessons and hire all equipment.
There are 30km of coastline to choose from, this is where you’re most likely to find a peaceful spot to lay your towel however, please note that the roads leading to the Côte Sauvage do get busy during summer, especially weekends and August.
Near to La Trembalde is a naturist beach.
If you have young children, head for the beach of Bonne Anse bay, where there is also an excellent water park with slides, and other fun things to do.
La Palmyre: north of Royan and part of the Côte Sauvage. Beautiful five kilometre stretch of beach backed by sand dunes and forest. As the name Côte Sauvage - wild coast - suggests, the waves can be big here so it’s popular with surfers and wind-surfers, careful with the strong rips though!. It is not patrolled by life-guards so you need to be careful, but if you're looking for an uncrowded beach this stretch is definitely the place to go.

Saint Palais-sur-Mer: north-west of Royan. Located in the estuary and surrounded by the small but attractive seaside town is this curving, sandy beach with very calm waters. A variety of cafés and restaurants are located near the beach, and in the evening the town comes alive with music. It is very child friendly with clubs for different age groups, and plenty of entertainment as well as loads of places to buy an ice-cream!

Châtelaillon plage: located on the Atlantic coast, not far from La Rochelle and facing Ile de Ré, Aix and Oleron islands - from the beach you can see Fort Bayard - this three kilometre long stretch of sandy beach is made even more attractive by the century-old resort town that’s noted for its Belle Epoque architecture. In July and August there are plenty of activities for children of all ages, as well as for adults (including beach volleyball). It has a ‘Handiplage’ award of excellence for catering for people with disabilities, including amphibious wheelchairs.

Île de Ré
The Île de Ré is well known for its sunny climate, it is 30km long and 5km wide (about 18.6miles by 3miles) and  attracts a lot of visitors each summer, however there’s plenty of room for everyone and it's still easy to get away from it all.  Best beaches for sunbathing.
Le-Bois-Plage-en-Ré, Ile de Ré: Ile de Ré, you are never far from a picture postcard beach. However, the southern side of this small island is where the best beaches are considered to be, and this one is one of the prettiest – and is very popular. There are approximately 8km of  gently shelving, beautiful fine white sand with clear blue water, and a lovely village that’s surrounded by vineyards and forest. The beach is patrolled by lifeguards in the summer and has a beach club for children. For something quieter, head for La Plage de la Conche between Les Portes and St Clements. At the edge of the Trousse-Chemise Pine Forest, it's a spot popular with artists. Other quieter beaches, head for those on the southwest coast, close to Phare des Baleines (the lighthouse). In the north the beaches are rockier and shallow although this makes them great for rockpooling.

L’île d’Oléron
This is known as France's largest island after Corsica and is located just off the Côte Sauvage coast, connected to the mainland by a bridge near Marennes on the other side of the Seudre river.  The island has a varied landscape and offers lovely pine forests and sand dunes to marshlands and salt beds, long sandy beaches and rugged cliffs. Cycling is very popular on the island and it is possible to rent bikes.
Grande Plage, Ile d'Oléron: You will see lots of surfers here as the waves are very good.  Pick a spot anywhere along the 12 km stretch of this beach that's on the southern tip of the island. Backed by sand dunes and the typical pine forests of the area, it has a very attractive natural setting that is in keeping with the unspoilt nature of the island.  The southern part of the beach is designated as nudist so if going au naturel is not your thing, stick to the northern section! Other beaches worth noting are Vert Bois and L'Acheneau for surfers, the former is particularly highly rated. For calmer beaches that are more suitable for families with young children, head east to resorts such as St Trojan les Bains, where the beaches are patrolled. Water sports are also popular here. Other family-friendly beaches are Boyardville in the north and Saumonards in the south.


   There are also beautiful beaches just North of the Poitou-Charentes in the Vendee

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