Best France Beaches

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The Best French Beaches...

  • 16. Pampelonne Beach // Cote d'Azur

    Pampelonne Beach
    © Daniel Kaesler
    Great for:
    • Swimming

    In the playground for the rich and famous that is Saint Tropez, it is Pampelonne Beach that has been at the centre of this glamorous scene since the 1950s. This stretch of coast was made famous by Brigitte Bardot in when she appeared in a gingham bikini on Tahiti beach in the 1956 film "And God Created Woman". In the years that followed the dress code became even… read more »

  • 17. Île-Tudy // Finistère

    Île-Tudy

    Set just across the River Odet from the popular beach resort of Bénodet is this great crescent of white sand beach, backed by low dunes and lapped by clear blue ocean. Stretching nearly 5km from the upmarket yachty village of Sainte Marine to the sleepy seaside village of Île-Tudy this is well known as one of the best family friendly beaches in Brittany.

    The ample sand here gently slopes into… read more »

  • 18. Plage de Pen Hat // Finistère

    Plage de Pen Hat
    Great for:
    • Surfing

    The beach of Pen Hat is one of the most exposed on the Crozon Peninsula. Facing directly into the full force of the Atlantic Ocean the rolling waves can be very impressive. Whilst this is often great news for the surfers it adds to the beaches already dangerous reputation for swimming. In fact bathing here is prohibited due to the presence of what are locally referred to as "baïnes" - these… read more »

  • 19. Plage de l'Écluse - Dinard // Ille-et-Vilaine

    Plage de l'Écluse - Dinard
    © chisloup / CC BY

    The seaside resort of Dinard still retains much of its belle-époque charm leading to it being referred to as the "pearl of the Emerald Coast" by some. Dotted with literally hundreds of elegant turn-of-the-century villas and a number of grand hotels the town makes a fantastic backdrop to some wonderful sandy beaches.

    Of Dinard's four main beaches it is the Plage de l'Écluse that stands out. A broad crescent of gently sloping sand, this… read more »

  • 20. Plage du Môle - St Malo // Ille-et-Vilaine

    Plage du Môle - St Malo

    Plage du Mole is the southernmost of St Malo's beaches. The name comes from the french word for breakwater (not the small furry animal) and the beach sits in the shelter of the Mole des Noires jetty which protects the entrance to the main harbour behind. There are good views across the bay towards Dinard less than 1 km away.

    This small sandy beach is seperated from neighbouring Plage de Bon… read more »

  • 21. Plage d'Herlin // Morbihan

    Plage d'Herlin
    © Patrice78500 / CC BY

    The sandy cove of Plage d'Herlin lies on the south coast of the island of Belle Île. It was formed by the confluence of three river valleys and is now a beautiful beach protected from the wind by low cliffs to all sides.

    Plage d'Herlin is a popular family beach and does get reasonably busy during the summer holidays. There is usually plenty of room though and the beach manages to retain some… read more »

  • 22. Plage de Kloukoury // Finistère

    Plage de Kloukoury

    This secluded little beach is backed by the extensive sand dunes of Sainte Marguerite in Landéda. It sits towards the end of the Penn Enez headland and is almost always quiet. 

    Despite the lack of crowds this is a beautiful sandy crescent of sand backed by the gently sloping grassy dunes. There are views out over the numerous rocky islands that sit off the coast here. It is also a great spot to… read more »

  • 23. La Palue // Finistère

    La Palue
    Jeanne Menjoulet
    Great for:
    • Surfing

    Loved by those seeking out the wilder reaches of France's Atlantic coast, Plage de la Palue lies on the western side of Brittany's Crozon Peninsula, close to its southernmost point of Cape de la Chèvre. Its wide expanse of yellow sand provides a powerful contrast to the crisp blues of the Atlantic, and the low cliffs that book end either side of the beach and create an atmosphere of seclusion.

    Facing… read more »

  • 24. Plage de Gwendrez // Finistère

    Plage de Gwendrez
    © Havang(nl)
    Great for:
    • Surfing

    One of the larger beaches on this stretch of the Brittany coastline, Plage de Gwendrez consists of a strip of fine pale sand descending gently into lagoon-like shallows.

    Surrounded by an unspoilt landscape of gently rolling fields, access is via the attractive town of Plouhinec. Divided into a smaller northern and larger southern section by a low outcrop of rocks that are perfect for children to clamber over, this family-friendly beach… read more »

  • 25. Plage de la Torche // Finistère

    Plage de la Torche
    Schorle
    Great for:
    • Fishing
    • Surfing
    • Kitesurfing

    Situated on one of the most westerly headlands in mainland France, La Torche takes the full impact of the Atlantic weather. This wide, open crescent of fine sand is particularly windswept and has a truly wild feel to it with just sand dunes and fields beyond.

    With all the wind and waves that batter the beach at La Torche it is perhaps unsurprising it is one of the premiere windsurf spots… read more »

  • 26. Kerminihy // Morbihan

    Kerminihy
    chisloup
    Great for:
    • Fishing

    Extending for around 2 kilometres along the central Brittany coast, the Plage Kerminihy is wonderfully undeveloped stretch of pale golden sand. To the rear there is nothing but dunes (access prohibited), and in front - the Atlantic Ocean.

    Kerminihy is the only beach in the Erdeven commune where naturism is tolerated. Although not an official nudist beach naturists have happily coexisted with "textiles" for many years.

    The northern end of the beach… read more »

  • 27. Cap d'Agde Naturist Beach // Occitanie

    Cap d'Agde Naturist Beach
    jean-louis Zimmermann
    Great for:
    • Swimming

    Located on the French Riviera, not far from the city of Montpellier is Cap d'Agde. This Languedoc resort only really dates back to the late 1960s when it grew around the large marina that was built. 

    There are several sandy beaches around the town but the biggest is the 5 kilometre long Cap d'Agde naturist beach. Stretching from the port of Agde town to the harbour at Marseillan, this well-equipped beach… read more »

  • 28. Plage de Kermor // Finistère

    Plage de Kermor
    © Chris Leather

    Facing south, the almost straight ribbon of sand that is Plage de Kermor stretches for more than three kilometres, although it takes on a name change to Plage de Teven towards its western end. Located roughly midway between Sainte Marine port in Combrit and the quaint village of Île Tudy, the beach provides the perfect blend of natural majesty and ease of access. Free parking is available at several… read more »

  • 29. Plage du Ris // Finistère

    Plage du Ris
    Moreau.henri
    Great for:
    • Fishing
    • Surfing

    Plage du Ris is the biggest beach in Douarnenez and when the tide is out a huge expanse of sand is revealed. The beach is just to the north of the town but the surrounds are quite rural in feel.

    To the rear of the beach is a large grassy area with picnic tables. There are also a number of traditional beach huts that hark back to the golden age of… read more »

  • 30. Plage de Pors Péron // Finistère

    Plage de Pors Péron
    Moreau.henri
    Great for:
    • Swimming

    Almost hidden below rugged cliffs covered in verdant grasses and wildflowers, the light-coloured sands of Plage de Pors Péron are situated on a small inlet in the cliffs around Cap Sizun, the most westerly point of mainland France.

    Facing north onto the Baie de Douarnenez, the beach receives some protection from the full force of the Atlantic Ocean, which results in generally flat conditions for paddling and swimming during the… read more »