Gallic Sand

Now that summer is here, I am getting asked by clients traveling to France, what some of the best beaches are. My first response is to say, if you are from the western hemisphere, the best beaches are here, why you would want a second rate beach in Europe, but that said –here are a few recommendations, if you must:

Corniche de l’Esteral, Cote d’Azur: It’s not only my opinion, but the French also, that the Cote d’Azur is now concrete from end to end. Development has gone crazy! But for solitude-seekers, the Corniche de ‘l’Esteral, from St Raphael to Cannes is the place. Hard to get to and so you’ll find more solitude here.

Pampelonne Beach, St Tropez: Not for the impoverished of dress and pocket. Still attracts the beautiful, the famous and RICH! It’s the most famous beach in southern France. Bring lots of money and a strong ego!

Les Landes, Aquitaine: The long coastline (north of Bordeaux) is marvelous – the beaches here are flat, endless and pounded by France’s finest rollers, dunes lineup like coastal defenses and vast pine forests behind contain an infinity of secrets. You’ll find more French tourists here, all requiring peace and quiet; no souvenir shops nor chic cafes and restaurants to speak of.
And speaking of dunes…my all time favorite visit along this coast is Europe’s highest sand dune; Grand Dune du Pyla, (in the photo above) just west of Bordeaux. It rises to a spectacular height of 328 ft and oh! What views you get from here.