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Atlantic Coast
Hundreds of miles of spectacular golden beaches
A lively coastline of cultural diversity, from the southern rustic Pays Basque to the elegant Loire Atlantique in the North, linked by hundreds of miles of Atlantic Ocean sandy beaches. To the west and inland, a peaceful mix of gentle countryside, vineyards, lush marshlands and pine forests.
Food and Wine
Food in this region is as varied as the landscape. Seafood is a major industry with abundant mussels, oysters, sardines and tuna. The Charente water meadows produce fine beef, whislt the salt marshes near La Rochelle offer tender lamb. Most villages in the Bordaux and Médoc regions are devoted to wine production and there are plenty of tasting opportunities at local chateaux or estates.
Towns and resorts
The coast and islands are paradise for outdoor family holidays. From north to south, the golden sand runs on and on! Enjoy resorts such as Royan or Meschers with beaches, shops, restaurants, beach clubs and much more. Biarritz in the south has retained its imperial elegance in contrast to the homely seaside towns of Croix de Vie in the north with colourful port and family activities. The islands along the coast can be reached by ferry, such as the Ile d'Yeu, or by road bridge to the Ile de Ré or Ile de Noirmoutier, and 30 km causeway to the Ile d'Oléron known for its fishing and oysters.
How to get there
Easily accessible from the ports of Caen, Cherbourg or St Malo, with most resorts accessible within half to one day's drive. Consider also a quick crossing to Calais or Dieppe and an overnight stop en route. The area is well served for flights into Bordeaux, La Rochelle, Biarritz and Nantes. For southern visits, take the Motorail from Calais to Biarritz or Bordeaux. Alternatively the TGV from Paris and the Eurostar runs to all the main towns in the area.
Attractions
La Rochelle hosts a sailing week at Whitsun and a fête in May. Arcachon holds a festival of the sea each summer. La Palmyre has a wonderful zoo for children, whilst older ones may prefer to go inland to Futuroscope, the cinema theme park near Poitiers. On the Gironde coast you cannot miss the Dune de Pyla, over 800m high and 1 km long, the largest sand dune in Europe! The Castillon-laBataille annually re-enacts the last battle of the 100 years war, and the château du Puy du Fou has a spectacular historical pageant throughout the summer.
Average temperatures
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Average days of sunshine
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec 16 16 20 23 23 25 26 23 22 19 15 14
Atlantic Coast
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