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Best beaches in the Vendée
About the beaches in the Vendée
One can hardly mention the weather without stirring up controversy, but ask any local, native or transplanted soul in the Vendée and he or she will not hesitate to claim the weather here is the best in France.
Because Vendéen weather patterns are heavily influenced by the Atlantic ocean on the west and southwestern borders there are nearly 2000 sunshine hours annually with average high temperatures of around 20°C (68°F).
Winters are cool, while autumn and spring seasons are mild. As a result, the landscape is green for most of the year, though summers are typically hot and dry.
Thanks to this lovely climate, tourism and agriculture are the main sources of income. Fauna and flora are rich and varied. Tropical varieties of trees, shrubs and flowers including palms, oleander, mimosa, magnolia, and hibiscus—plants found in holiday spots like Spain, Crete, U.S. states such as Florida and California, and in the Caribbean—thrive in the sunshine.
This verdant bounty, mixed with the traditional terracotta rooftops that give south-western France its luster, evokes a vacation mood at first sight.
From a bird's-eye view, the green and sloping hills of the Vendéen countryside (le bocage) are edged to the south by the Marais-Poitevin, vast marshlands created by Benedictine monks many centuries ago; and to the west by more than 200 kilometers (120 miles) of wild coastline.
The no less than 160 km of golden sandy beaches are as inviting for summer reading as they are for invigorating winter walking. Some of them boom with summer visitors and locals, most of them are tranquil, some are a vigorous walk through the forest away to be revealed in pristine beauty of unspoilt nature.
Islands, you ask? YES! The nearby islands supply history and charm. Located in the Bay of Biscay is Noirmoutier, accessible at low tide via the famous Passage du Gois causeway. Ile d’Yeu, situated around 100 km off the coast and reachable only by ferry, is reminiscent of any Greek island.
Similarly, the beautiful Ile de Ré, and Ile d'Oléron both located just south of the Vendée beckon for a daytrip featuring towering platters of seafood, quaint villages and tiny ports.
Main image Copyright Alexandre Lamoureux/ Vendée Expansion
A list of the best beaches in the Vendée
From a bird's-eye view, the green and sloping hills of the Vendéen countryside (le bocage) are edged to the west by more than 200 kilometers (120 miles) of coastline. 160 km of golden sandy beaches are as inviting for summer reading as they are for invigorating winter walking. Furthermore, each of the nearby islands supplies its own history and charm.
Located in the Bay of Biscay is Noirmoutier, accessible at low tide via the famous Passage du Gois causeway or via the new bridge.
Ile d’Yeu, situated around 100 km off the coast and reachable only by ferry, is reminiscent of any Greek island.
Similarly, the beautiful Ile de Ré, and Ile d'Oléron (both located in the department of Charante Maritime just south of Vendée) beckon with towering platters of seafood, quaint villages, tiny ports and a colorful array of family activities. (recommended day trip to Citadelle de Brouage)
La Plage des Conches - Longeville-sur-Mer
GPS coordinates – 46.38921601303413, -1.4937957568693545
Watersports – yes, surfing, sand yachting, windsurfing and kitesurfing
Directions – enter your departure address
La plage de la Terrière - la Tranche-sur-Mer
GPS coordinates –46.35694816487604, -1.4748478266425051
Watersports – yes, sand yachting, windsurfing and kitesurfing
Snack bar – yes
Directions – enter your departure address
La plage Bois Soret - Notre-Dame-des-Monts
Watersports – Yes (Pole nautique nearby)
GPS – 46.833596929362635, -2.1452207076351812
Wild beach – surrounded by dunes and the Forêt domaniale des Pays-de-Monts
Directions – enter your departure address
La Grande Plage - Les Sables d'Olonne
GPS coordinates – 46.494930119928995, -1.7896013151002073
Restaurants, shopping and games – yes
Snack bar – yes
Directions – enter your departure address
La Plage des Cinq Pineaux - St-Hilaire-de-Riez
GPS coordinates – 46.71251054094279, -1.9792732703145663
Restaurants, shopping and games – yes
Wild nature – yes, see also The Legends
Directions – enter your departure address
La plage des Demoiselles - Saint-Jean-de-Monts
GPS coordinates – 46.774391718548586, -2.060537328234348
Boardwalk, shops, restaurants – yes
Wild coast – yes
Directions – enter your departure address
Plage du Veillon - Talmont Saint Hilaire TOP CHOICE
GPS coordinates – 46.43083336540599, -1.6545515812422695
Watersports – yes, paddle boarding, kayak etc
Picturesque port and wild coast – yes
Snack bar – yes
Directions – enter your departure address
Beach info reduced mobility access here
Vendée Island beaches
Plage des Dames – Noirmoutier
GPS coordinates – 47.01193114948853, -2.221065921553012
Nature spot – yes, and picturesque beach cabins
Directions – enter your departure address
Plage de Babatre - Noirmoutier
GPS coordinates – 46.931285269607905, -2.1736544040615424
Watersports – yes
Directions – enter your departure address
Plage Anse des Soux - Ile d'Yeu TOP CHOICE
GPS coordinates –46.69093029252674, -2.3236356394654654
Wild beach – yes
Directions – enter your departure address
Taking dogs to the beach in the Vendée
Beaches, especially at the height of the summer season, may or may not allow dogs or special conditions exist e.g. dogs not allowed during bathing hours but allowed before 10h00 and after 18h00, or only at low tide, or must be kept on leash, or not allowed in supervised bathing areas etc...
At every beach there are panels offering guidance on whether or not dogs are allowed (with conditions listed). Failure to comply results in a fine. Dogs accompanying people with reduced mobility are allowed.
If you want to be sure, double check with the local Offices de Tourisme.
On ALL beaches you must pick up your pooch's droppings, otherwise you will have to pay a fine of up to several hundred euros!
This list indicates where it is allowed to take your dogs and conditions:
- From May 1 to September 15, dogs are allowed on a leash only at the following locations:
- Plage du Rocher, Longeville-sur-Mer: between access points LONGE 1 and LONGE 6
- Plage des Conches, Longeville-sur-Mer: between access points LONGE 14 and LONGE 18.
- Longeville-sur-Mer: dogs accompanying people with reduced mobility are allowed on all the beaches of the commune.
- July and August
- Saint-Vincent-sur-Jard, dogs are not allowed on the beaches. The rest of the year, they are welcome on the Plage du Goulet.
- 1st April to 15th October
- Estuaire du Payré/ La plage du Veillon in Talmont-Saint-Hilaire: pets on a leash are allowed on the Payré channel side, but only if they take the path around the dune via the Veillon forest.
Dogs are allowed on the following beaches:
-
- NOTRE DAME DE MONTS
- Plage des Régates
- Plage du Murier
- SAINT JEAN DE MONTS
- Plage du Petit Sochard
- Plage de la Tonelle
- Plage de la Parée du Jonc
- Plage de la Davière
- BRÉTIGNOLLES SUR MER
- Plage du Petit Pont
- Crique de la Sauzaie
- LA TRANCHE SUR MER
- Plage Corps des Gardes
- Plage de Sainte Anne
- Plage de Génerelles
- Plage du Phare
- Plage Flandre Dunkerque
- Plage Camélias
- Plage Clemenceau
- Plage de la Terrière
- Plage de l'Océan
- Plage l'Atlantique
- Plage les Acacias
- Plage des Bouchots - Grière-Plage
- JARD SUR MER
- Plage de Ragounite
- Plage de Légère
- Plage de Madoreau
- Plage du Pé du Canon (to the righthand side)
- SAINT VINCENT SUR JARD
- Plage du Bélesbat (dogs on leash)
- Plage de Ragnette: Access St Vincent 1 and St Vincent 2 (dogs on leash)
- LA FAUTE SUR MER
- Plage de la Grande Casse
- Plage des Amourettes
- Plage des Naturistes
- Grand'Plage (outside of supervised swimming areas)
- Plage des Bélugas (outside of supervised swimming areas)
- Plage des Chardons (outside of supervised swimming areas)
- Plage de la Barrique (outside of supervised swimming areas)
- L'AIGUILLON SUR MER
- Plage de l'Oasis
- Plage de l'Éperon
- NOTRE DAME DE MONTS
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