Royan plage
Royan plage - Discover the most beautiful beaches of Royan on the Côte de Beauté: conches, coves, long sandy beaches, secret beaches...
Beaches of Royan – Royan beach is located on the beauty coast in the Charente Maritime region, with a wide range of beaches to suit all tastes.
This article will introduce you to the most beautiful beaches in and around royan. Here's what you'll discover:
Beaches of Royan - long sandy beaches
Royan Plage's best-known beach is certainly the Grande Conche. in the town of Royan, suitable for families and close to the center of Royan. The beach at St Georges de Didonne is also a long, sandy, family-friendly beach.
The conches north of Royan
Further north are a succession of small conches - beaches framed by rocks and cliffs, such as plage de Foncillon, plage du Chay, plage de Pontaillac, plage de Nauzan, and plage du bureau in St Palais sur Mer.
Beaches of Royan - wild beaches
Next come the beaches of the Grande côte, long sandy beaches more exposed to the swell and the elements. And finally, still to the north, the beaches of the côte sauvage, where swimming can sometimes be more dangerous.
The beaches of the Gironde estuary
To the south, the beaches of the Gironde estuary are also framed by cliffs and troglodyte caves - ideal for families.
Royan - The Côte de Beauté in Charente Maritime is a stretch of coast bordered by beautiful beaches, cliffs and coves. Royan's beaches are ideal for family vacations.
1. The long sandy beaches around Royan
Royan Plage - la Grande conche in Royan
Royan beach – Grande Conche beach - is located in Royan, Charente Maritime, and is certainly one of the city's most beautiful beaches for families.
It's the ideal place for sunbathing, alone or with the family. You can get there easily from the town of Royan Plage, either on foot or by car, parking in one of the many parking spaces nearby.
You can also enjoy a range of beach activities: sand yachting, etc... The Grande Conche beach stretches over 2600 m, and even in high season, there's plenty of room for everyone.
From the beach, you can easily get to St Georges de Didonne, and enjoy its family-friendly beach, or even Meschers sur Gironde. You can also easily walk to downtown Royan for shopping and drinks.
Not far from the beach are the Louis Simon art gallery, the swimming pool, the Royan market and the Notre dame de Royan church. A little further on, you can visit the Royan museum, the Notre-Dame-des-Anges chapel, the Pontaillac casino and its beautiful family beach.
Among the beaches of Royan, The Grande Conche beach has a rich history. As early as 1864, horse races were held on the beach. A casino with a monumental neo-rococo façade was built and inaugurated at the end of the 19th century.
On the other side of the beach, on the Pointe de Vallières, there was a hotel overlooking the landscape, which was also destroyed during the Second World War.
Photos of the Grande Conche beach in Royan
Royan Plage - The conch of St Georges de Didonne
Of all Royan's beaches, St Georges de Didonne beach is one of the longest sandy beaches, located in Saint Georges de Didonne, in the Charente Maritime region, on the Côte de Beauté. This beach is ideal for families. There are rarely any waves, which is ideal for young children. Sailing and other water sports are available.
The beach at Saint Georges de Didonne extends from the Pointe de Suzac, with the former accrobranche (tree-climbing course) close to the Parc de l'Estuaire, to the nautical center, near the Vallières lighthouse and the Saint Georges marina.
From St Georges beach, you can quickly get to the center of Saint Georges and eat a crêpe in the often lively village square. From the Grande Plage, you can also drive 10 minutes to Royan Plage and its Grande Conche, or to one of the small creeks of the Gironde estuary.
On the beach, you'll find first-aid posts and toilets, and in the immediate vicinity, the St Georges sailing club, a merry-go-round and shops (bars, ice-cream parlors, restaurants, etc.).
To plan your beach outing and check the weather, you can view the live webcam by clicking here.
Photos of Saint Georges de Didonne beach
2. royan beaches - conches north of Royan
Beaches of royan - Pontaillac beach
Pontaillac beach in Royan Beach is a 400m-long, pristine sandy beach, popular with residents and tourists alike. It is located in the Pontaillac north of the town of Royan Plage and within the boundaries of the commune of Vaux Sur Mer.
The beach is located in an urban area, which includes Royan casino and two eateries in its central part, and on the other side the architecturally impressive houses and rocky cliffs. Swimming is also possible, with supervised bathing during July and August. However, it's also possible to try bodyboarding or surfing, the area being well recognized by surfers as a place to retreat in the event of big waves. The promenade along the Pontaillac shoreline has been renovated and offers spectacular views over the region.
There's also a kids' club, a sailing club and a surf club, as well as deckchairs that can be rented during the season. There's also a pétanque court to the west. Across the road is the mini-golf course.
On the opposite side of the road, along the beach, you can stroll and enjoy the terraces of restaurants, bars and ice cream parlors. Please note that pets are not allowed. It's easy to reach Royan's seafront from Pontaillac or Vaux Sur Mer beaches.
Close to Royan's beaches are the Musée de Royan and the Notre-Dame-des-Anges chapel. A little further afield, you can visit the sandy beach of Foncillon and the Grande Conche beachor visit the church in Royan.
Photos of Pontaillac beach in Royan
Nauzan beach in Vaux sur Mer
Nauzan Beach in Vaux sur Mer is located on the Côte de Beauté in Charente Maritime, also known as Plage du Vaux sur Mer, on the border of the communes of Vaux sur Mer and Saint Palais sur Mer. It is the widest beach in the town of Vaux sur Mer.
This family-friendly sandy beach is very popular in high season. It's actually a cove, surrounded by rocky cliffs.
Unlike some of Royan's other beaches, it's known for its waves, and surfers are plentiful. when the swell is too great on the wild coast. The beach is supervised in season and has a sailing school. In fact, the left-hand side of the beach is reserved for sailing activities. There's also a kids' club in high season.
It also boasts a long promenade where night markets and concerts are held. On the beach, you'll find the well-known restaurant-bar 'la maison blanche', a trendy party spot. The conche is surrounded by a footpath, formerly known as the 'sentier des douaniers'.
Not far from Nauzan beach are the Platin beach, the Devil's Bridge, but also the Concié beach, or the Great Coast. A great way to spend some quality family time on the beaches of Saint Palais sur Mer; not forgetting, of course, a visit to Royan Plage, with its large conch.
Photos of Nauzan beach in Vaux sur Mer
Saint Palais sur Mer beach
The beach at Saint Palais sur Mer on the Côte de Beauté in Charente Maritime, also known as the office range is located in the center of town, and stands out not only for its ideal location for leisure activities and shopping, but also for its landscape of rocks and cliffs, on which are set beautiful houses, most of them remarkable for their architecture dating back to the belle époque.
The beach is a fine sandy beach, supervised in high season and equipped with all amenities - disabled access, shower, swimming pool, toilets - as well as a kids' club, etc. However, dogs are not allowed, and water sports are prohibited.
Not far from Plage du Bureau are Plage du Platin, Pont du diable, Plage du Concié and Grande Côte. Plenty of family fun to be had on the beaches of Saint Palais sur Mer.
Photos of Saint Palais sur Mer beach
3. The beaches of the wild coast
The wild coast
When it comes to beaches, we should say la côte sauvage beachThe beach stretches uninterrupted for over 20 kilometers between the commune of La Palmyre and the town of Ronce-les-Bains.
The sandy beach is divided into numbered sections, making it easy to find your way around. Each of these beaches is well known to the locals for its characteristics. For example, beach 46 has a parking lot and is easily accessible via the dune, so you don't have to walk far. It's also a well-known surf spot, as is 44.
You can reach the beaches of the Côte Sauvage from the towns of Ronce les Bains, La Tremblade, Saint Palais sur Mer or Vaux sur Mer. If you start from Meschers sur Gironde, or Saint Georges de Didonne, you'll have to drive a little further, and at the height of the tourist season, it will also take a little longer.
The wild coast faces the ocean, and is not protected by the presence of islands or the entrance to the estuary like the other beaches of royan. It is therefore exposed to swell and currents.
It's a popular spot for surfing, kite surfing and windsurfing (to a lesser extent).
Beware, swimming on the wild beaches of the côte sauvage can be dangerous, due to currents and waves.
4. beaches of royan - the beaches of the Gironde estuary
plages de royan - Nonnes beach in Meschers
The nuns' beach is one of Meschers' best-known beaches. Located between Plage des Vergnes and Conche de Cadet, it features a sailing center and two bar-restaurants, including the famous Bikki Beach, formerly Tina's Café. You'll also find water sports activities, with the Cercle Nautique de Meschers.
Close to Plage des Nonnes are Plage des Vergnes and the small Plage de l'Arnèche, and the famous Conche des Cadets, where legend has it that Cadet, a pirate, lured ships that came aground on the rocks, so that he could then plunder them.
Not far from the beach, you can visit the town center, organized around the Meschers church, where you'll find the market square, a few stores and restaurants, all within easy walking distance. It's a busy place in high season.
From the church, it's easy to get to the port of Meschers, as well as the cliffs of Meschers to discover the famous carrelets. Nearby are the Nonnes beach, the Vergnes beach and the small Arnèche beach.
Arnèche beach
La Plage de l'Arnèche is located just off the coastal road that runs along the Gironde estuary between Meschers and Sainte Georges. It's a very small cove, with not very easy access.
The beach is a small, sandy cove surrounded by a forest of limestone cliffs typical of the banks of the Gironde estuary.
You can find it between Plage des Vergnes and Plage de Suzac, at the edge of the Suzac forest.
Not far from this creek is the well-known Suzac beach, and if you go to Meschers, you can discover the Nonnes beach and its famous bikki beach, as well as the conche de Cadetliterally encircled by high cliffs.
Access to the beach is tricky: you may have to take a steep path and then climb down the steps to reach the sand or rocks.
Photos of the Nonnes beach in Meschers
Around the beaches of Royan
Pontaillac district
Pontaillac a Royan is a district of the town of Royan, located between downtown Royan and the town of Vaux Sur Mer. In the neighborhood you'll find Pontaillac beach in Royan, known as a family beach where you can also surf. In fact, it's one of Royan's best-known surf spots. But Pontaillac is also famous for its casino, located in the middle of the Pontaillac beach in Royan, with its feet in the sand. The promenade has been refurbished, and bars and restaurants with their terraces are ideally located opposite the beach.
Saint Palais sur Mer
St Palais Sur Mer is a pretty little seaside town facing the famous Cordouan lighthouse, ideally situated between Royan, Pontaillac and Vaux-Sur-Mer on the one hand, and La Tremblade and Ronce-les-Bains on the other. From St Palais Sur Mer, you can easily get to the beaches of the wild coast, and enjoy the 'nature' beaches and ocean waves.
The town of Saint Palais sur Mer boasts typical houses preserved from the Second World War, as well as quiet, tree-lined neighborhoods. It boasts a small, lively town center during the summer season, ideally located near the beautiful Plage du Bureau beach.
Meschers sur Gironde
The town of Meschers stands out for its magnificent cliffs, troglodyte caves, typical little beaches and family-friendly lifestyle. It's the gateway to France's Gironde estuary, the Côte de Beauté, close to Royan and St Palais Sur Mer, and ideally located just a stone's throw from Talmont sur Gironde and Saint-Georges-de-Didonne.You can enjoy the small beaches framed by the cliffs, its family theme park, its small daily market in summer... But don't leave without taking a tour of the carrelets, the little huts clinging to the cliffs and overlooking the Gironde estuary, which were once used for fishing.
Talmont Sur Gironde
Talmont sur Gironde is a village on the right bank of the Gironde estuary in France, near the towns of Meschers sur Gironde and St Georges de Didonne. It is remarkable for its location on a peninsula. It used to be a walled town. It's a delight to stroll through the narrow streets lined with hollyhocks.
You can enjoy its typical little port overlooking the customs house, as well as the Eglise Ste Radegonde overlooking the Gironde estuary and its cemetery filled with hollyhocks in season.
Talmont sur Gironde is an ideal place for a relaxing vacation, but also as a starting point for visiting the Gironde estuary, and discovering small villages such as Mortagne sur Gironde, or even going as far as the citadel at Blaye.
Saint Georges de Didonne
St Georges de Didonne is a small town located at the mouth of the Gironde estuary between the towns of Royan and Meschers sur Gironde, on the Côte de Beauté. The town is famous for its large sandy beach, ideal for a family day out, the Pointe de Suzac and the Suzac forest, where you can go hiking or mountain biking.
Pointe de Vallières is ideally located between the beach at St Georges de Didonne and Royan's main beach. The center of St Georges allows you to do everything on foot, from the restaurants and bars around the church square to the beach and nautical center. Towards the road to Meschers, you can take full advantage of the forest and the Pointe de Suzac, just a few minutes from Meschers and its typical beaches. Near the beach, between the town center and the route de Meschers, you'll enjoy this quiet neighborhood of houses spaced out under the pine trees, just a few minutes from the beach.
Suzac Point
Suzac Point is a rocky cape located at the entrance to the Gironde estuary, between the large conch of St Georges de Didonne and the famous Suzac beach, and faces the Pointe de Grave. It borders the communes of Saint Georges de Didonne and Meschers sur Gironde.
If you go there, you'll see several blockhouse which were built during the 2nd World War when the Germans controlled the entrance to the Gironde estuary and the Royan region, known as the Royan pocket.
