If you’re really wanting a beach holiday or simply just a great day out by the sea, then you really have plenty of choice but they only thing is you will have to go to the Charente Maritime to find the beaches! The coast of the Poitou-Charentes region has up to 100 beaches spread along the coastline and the easily accessible islands to be found just off the Atlantic coast. All of these have long stretches of clean, soft sand and many have protected status.
One good place to start is the islands, including Ile de Ré found off the coast of the glamorous town of La Rochelle. It’s here that the beautiful people of France come for weeks of fun in the sun. Then there are family friendly beaches to be found in the area round Royan while if you like surfing then you will love the wild beauty of the Côte Sauvage.