25+ Most Beautiful Beaches In France -

Which are the most beautiful beaches in France? A tricky question, in a country with over 5,000 kilometres of coastline and an estimated 2,600 beaches. La Bretonelle dares to try and present a selection of the most beautiful beaches in France. We visit the most spectacular and famous beaches on the Mediterranean, the Atlantic and the coast of the English Channel. The journey begins in northern France, then from Normandy we head counterclockwise to the Atlantic coast and end on the dream beaches of Corsica and the French Riviera.

Discover now:

Beaches in Normandy
Atlantic Coast
Mediterranean Coast
Corsica

Beaches in Normandy

Étretat

Étretat is one of the beaches in France with the most exceptional panorama. Known for its high cliffs, where a wide beach lies between the chalk cliffs “Falaise d’Aval” and “Falaise d’Amont”, the cliff offers several postcard motifs at once. Anyone who has seen enough of the “Porte d’Aval” and “Manneporte” arches from a distance should climb the rocks and enjoy the view from the cliffs of the steep coast.

The natural monuments are connected by hiking trails – to enjoy the full splendour of Étretat, you should pack sturdy shoes and a camera. For bathing, Étretat takes some getting used to. The beach consists of many coarse pebbles, parts of the chalk cliffs that the wind and the sea have eroded over time. By the way, it is forbidden to pick up the stones, they are too important as mini breakwaters to protect the coast.

Deauville

The “endless” beach of the fashionable seaside resort of Deauville is a real attraction. The sand is white and fine, the view goes far out to sea and cooling off on a hot day in the relatively cold water is a real refreshment. Despite its fame, the beach is not permanently overcrowded even in the summer season, the visitors spread out over the wide area.

What distinguishes the beach of Deauville from other beaches and makes it so famous is the surrounding area. Over 650 metres of wooden planks form a wide promenade for strolling. Also worth seeing are the Art Deco-style pools and changing rooms at the head of the beach, some named after actors. Even though the wind can be quite strong in autumn and winter, it’s worth visiting Deauville beach at any time of year!

Baie de Mont Saint-Michel

The stretch of coast in front of the world-famous monastery island of Mont Saint-Michel is not a bathing beach. The tide flowing back from the sea returns in the immediate vicinity of the island at high speed (although not with the “speed of a galloping horse”, as a much-quoted saying by Victor Hugo puts it), so that even those who take in the landscape on a walk have to be extremely careful.

But even if you can’t bask in the sand under the sun here, the beach is one of the most impressive landscapes on the Normandy coast and in France as a whole. It is not for nothing that UNESCO has declared the landscape a World Heritage Site. On the Breton side of the Bay of Mont Saint-Michel are some of the most beautiful beaches in Brittany. The Plage du Sillon in Saint-Malo, for example, is a stretch of coastline that offers the perfect beach experience – bathing included.

Atlantic Coast

La Baule

The bay of La Baule near Nantes is considered one of the most beautiful on the Atlantic coast. The crescent-shaped beach between the towns of Pornichet and Le Pouliguen is almost 5 kilometres long. A wide sandy beach with fine, golden sand and calm, clean water, La Baule makes for a picture-perfect beach holiday. Extensive lazing in the sun and water sports are therefore the activities most bathers indulge in here.

Which brings up one of the downers of La Baule: the other visitors. In summer, the beach is unfortunately quite crowded. Downer no. 2: the architecture of the place. The beautiful villas disappear between modern functional buildings for tourism. On a quiet day in the low season, however, you can see why the beach is one of the most beautiful on the French Atlantic.

Grande plage Biarritz

The icing on the cake of the wonderful town of Biarritz is the beach. The “Grand Plage” of Biarritz is a large and spacious urban beach, which presents the Atlantic Ocean in all its splendour and the Pyrenees on the horizon. The beach promenade is worth a visit even in temperatures where beach towels and swimwear stay in the wardrobe. If the temperatures are summery, you can swim and sunbathe at the Grand plage with good quality sand and water. The only flaw: from June to September, the popular section is quite crowded.

By the way: The Grand plage of Biarritz is one of the most popular beaches in the whole of France in surfing circles. Surfers are not the only ones who can get a picture of the Grand plage in sun, wind and weather via the webcam.

Hendaye

Hendaye is probably one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, located directly on a national border. The 3.5-kilometre-long sandy beach is bordered on the south-western side by a bay, on the opposite side of which lies the Spanish town of Irun. To the north, picturesque rocks form a natural barrier, and the stretch of beach at the foot of the large rocks is reserved for naturist enthusiasts.

Swimming is not dangerous on the beach of Hendaye, the waves gently wash up against the coast by Bay of Biscay standards. Optimal conditions for surfing beginners! The entrance to the shallow, algae-free water is also gentle, making the beach extremely attractive for families with small children.

Even more beautiful beaches on the French Atlantic coast:

Les Sables-d’Olonne beach
Anglet beach
Carcans beach
Hossegor beach

Mediterranean Coast

Plage du Racou

In view of the crowded beaches on the French Mediterranean coast, the Plage du Racou is almost an insider tip. The beach belongs to the municipality of Argelès-sur-Mer in Roussillon, a few kilometres from the border between France and Spain.

The southern end of the Plage du Racou opens out onto a steep stretch of coastline, and the hiking trail high above the water has connections all the way to the hiking trails of the Pyrenees. The beach here is finer in many places than elsewhere on the French Mediterranean, as new sand is regularly piled up here to prevent erosion. The water is clear, the atmosphere calm – definitely recommendable and thus one of the most beautiful beaches in France!

Pampelonne

South of Saint-Tropez, there is a 4.5-kilometre-long beach that is not missing from any list of the most beautiful beaches in France: the Plage de Pampelonne. Framed by the Cap du Pinet to the north and the Pointe de la Bonne Terrasse to the south, and lined with palm and pine trees, the beauty of the beach unfolds most in the morning or in the quieter low season. In July and August, the Plage de Pampelonne is one of the most crowded beaches in France.

Then the bathers lie close together on the public part of the beach. In sections that are privately owned, you can buy peace and space. The price for a day pass is around 20 EUR and includes access to changing rooms, a sunbed and a shower. Even more money can be spent in the many exclusive bars, restaurants and clubs on the Plage de Pampelonne.

Plage du Larvotto (Monte Carlo, Monaco)

Skyscrapers in the background, luxurious beach bars, sunbeds and chairs for hire, waist-high ropes leading into the water – the “Plage du larvotto” is pretty much the opposite of wild and romantic.

But most visitors to Monte Carlo’s only sandy beach are not interested in spending a contemplative moment in harmony with nature. Seeing and being seen is more important to most guests of the coarse-grained Larvotto north of Monte Carlo’s city centre than relaxation. Be careful not to accidentally walk into a selfie….

Even more beautiful beaches and stretches of coastline on the French Mediterranean coast:

Cap d’Agde beach
Mala beach (Cap d’Ail)
Cap d’Antibes
Beach of the Île de Porquerolles

More about these and other beautiful beaches on the Côte d’Azur.

Corsica

Plage Palombaggia

One of the most beautiful beaches in Corsica is Plage Palombaggia. Located south of the third largest Corsican town, Porto-Vecchio, Plage Palombaggia offers everything a dream beach should: white sand, shallow turquoise water with small rocks here and there, and a breathtaking setting of mountains and pine trees. The beach is divided into several sections separated by rocks. In the high season from May to August, there is an almost one hundred percent guarantee of sunshine and bathing.

This makes the beach extremely popular with all Corsica holidaymakers. As with all of the most beautiful beaches presented here, the earlier you arrive, the luckier you are to pick your favourite spot on the beach. In high summer, temperatures can reach 40°C in the blazing sun. So put on some sunscreen and find a shady spot from time to time. For example, in one of the bars on Plage Palombaggia!

Plage Rondinara

In the south-east of Corsica is the beautiful beach of Rondinara. The crescent-shaped bay protects the beach and provides calm, clear water. This makes the beach ideal for families – small and big children alike have perfect conditions for endless water fun.

In some years, however, algae and seaweed spoil the swimming pleasure. In addition, the beach is a victim of its beauty, especially in summer: its fame attracts many bathers. Parking the car and finding a place for a towel and beach shell can then become a real challenge.

Even more beautiful beaches on Corsica:

Calvi beach (north coast)
Saleccia beach (north coast)
Canella beach (east coast)
Pinarello beach (south-east coast)
Santa Giulia Beach (south-east coast)

Beaches in Brittany

You like it quieter, more authentic and without chichi? Then La Bretonelle recommends the beaches of Brittany. An extra article pays tribute to these stretches. Et voilà: These are the most beautiful beaches in Brittany:

Île de Groix: La Plage des Grands Sables
Carantec: La Grève Blanche
Belle-Île-en-mer: Plage du Donnant
Les plages de l’Ile de Batz
Saint-Malo: Plage du Sillon