The seaside resorts of Vendée

The Vendée coast offers a magnificent Atlantic facade. Between its ports and long beaches, beautiful seaside resorts dot the 250 km of Vendée coas   tline.

Seaside resorts were built to make it easy for you to swim in the sea. The quality of their waters must be impeccable. Services are available to offer you maximum comfort. Water activities flourish to entertain you. These are the perfect places to enjoy the benefits of the ocean and have fun with your family!

The Vendée Guide has toured the resorts to reveal their main attractions. We'll be heading north to south and taking you on a seaside stroll along the famous " Côte de Lumière."

Photos of the article: © Vendée Guide

Saint-Jean-de-Monts

On the northern coast of Vendée, Saint-Jean-de-Monts is the first seaside resort in Vendée. It borders the commune of Notre-Dame-de-Monts, to the north, which is less urbanized, with large beaches bordering the forest. To the south, the small seaside resort of Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez has a beautiful coastal road, nestled between the Plage des Demoiselles and its large beach.

It is a paradise for families. It has 6 beaches, gently sloping, therefore safer for children:

• Tonnelle beach;
• The beach of Parée du Jonc;
• Davière beach;
• The large beach of Saint-Jean-de-Monts;
• The Golf Beach;
• The Bather's Beach.

You can also try fishing on foot, a typical Vendée activity. We recommend Davière beach.

Demoiselles Beach is also a good surfing spot, with a beach break ideal for beginners. The Ocean Surf Club offers introductory and advanced courses.

A stroll along the Saint-Jean-de-Monts jetty offers a beautiful panorama of the ocean, the island of Yeu, the golf course and the Demoiselles beach in Saint-Hilaire de Riez. The town is also surrounded by the Pays de Monts Forest, where there are many hiking trails.

At the foot of the jetty, the nautical base allows you to rent sand yachts and practice many other water sports.

But it's not just water sports; you can also enjoy a casino, a Ferris wheel, and even a golf course.

Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie

Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie is a very friendly and authentic seaside resort. It is above all a large fishing port where you can taste the famous sardines of Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie. Moreover, you are in the right place to learn sport fishing at sea. If it is fishing on foot that interests you, you will find what you are looking for on the Grande Plage.

For swimming in Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, we recommend:

• The intimate and peaceful Boisvinet beach.
• La Grande Plage for its comfort and services: beach lifeguard, children's club and activities for older children, shops and restaurants.

On its Grande Plage, you have access to numerous water activities. Here are our providers by category:

• Introduction to sailing or kitesurfing ;
• Sand yacht rental at SEMVIE Nautisme ;
• Stand-Up Paddle.

The walk along the corniche is one of the must-sees for its views of the Boisvinet lighthouse, the Garenne jetty, the Rêverie benches and the port of La Vie.

Bretignolles-sur-Mer

At Bretignolles-sur-Mer, you arrive at a rockier area of the coast. The coastline is therefore quite preserved. To discover it, take the coastal path, accessible to pedestrians and cyclists. Take the opportunity to visit the Rocher Sainte-Véronique, perched 7 m above the sea.

Despite a fairly mineral setting, you can access 6 fine sandy beaches, nestled in the rocks and on the outskirts of the resort:

• Normandelière beach;
• Sauzaie beach;
• Parée beach;
• Marais Girard beach;
• Dunes Beach;
• And if you are a fan of naturism, there is the Petit Pont beach.

Beginner surfers will enjoy Dunes Beach, which is a fairly easy spot.

Les Sables-d'Olonne

The seaside resort of Les Sables-d'Olonne is the most famous of the Vendée resorts. It is very popular and very lively. The Vendée Globe is a very popular solo sailing race that starts from the town's port. Emblematic of seaside towns, it also has a casino. To enjoy the benefits of the ocean, it's the opportunity to have marine-themed treatments in one of the many wellness centers.

This community of communes has a long Atlantic coastline and is home to 8 beaches :

• Granges beach;
• Sauveterre beach;
• The Black Stones beach;
• Tanchet beach;
• The beach of Sables-d'Olonne;
• Presidents' Beach;
• The beach of Bassin Dombret;
• La Paracoua beach.

On the Grande Plage des Sables-d'Olonne, the decor is traditional for seaside resorts from the Belle Époque with its beach huts. You benefit from all the advantages of the resort: sun lounger rental, bars and restaurants, small shops, etc. For those who prefer the swimming pool to the ocean, head to the Remblai swimming pool, with a sea view.

At the Sablais Watersports Center, you can enjoy all sorts of activities. The beaches of Les Sables-d'Olonne are also renowned for their surf schools: here is our directory of providers.

To the south of the resort, after a series of long beaches, the coast becomes steeper. By taking a walk along its Corniche du Nouch, you will admire the view of its Dombret basin and its "Petite Jetée". It is a parade of coves, points, up to its Puit de l'Enfer. The path is very exotic. If you extend your walk towards Talmont-Saint-Hilaire, you can fish on foot on the Plage du Veillon.

Several lighthouses in Vendée dot this dangerous coastline for sailors: the Armandèche Lighthouse, the Chaume Lighthouse, the Barges Lighthouse, and the Green Lighthouse of Les Sables d'Olonne. Some can be visited, while others can be admired from afar.

The Tranche-sur-Mer

La Tranche-sur-Mer is nicknamed "Vendée's Little California." It's worth noting that no fewer than 13 km of beaches are available to you and surfers. It's the last seaside resort in the Vendée. It also offers a beautiful view of the Île de Ré and is one of the 10 beaches in Vendée not to be missed!

The atmosphere is young, dynamic and festive. All board sports are in the spotlight. All you have to do is choose the location and your atmosphere:

• To take sailing lessons, go to WaveSchool.
• Learn to surf with the FreesurfSchool.
• At Water Fun, the goal is to have fun while playing sports.
• Try wakeboarding at Aloha Wake Park.

To entertain children of all ages, there is also a skate park, a pirate island for the little ones and the Maupas lake to try swimming in fresh water before diving into the waves.

We've explored the entire Vendée coastline. Now all you have to do is choose where you'll set down your suitcases and treat yourself to a relaxing oceanfront getaway!

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