That’s right—the North, not the Med. Make Bretagne (Brittany in English), Normandie, or Charentes-Maritimes your next French summer destination.
Northwestern France might make you think of cool, rocky, windswept beaches with chilly Atlantic water and no shortage of rain. There’s also a ton of WWII history and plenty of cows producing delicious butter. You wouldn’t be wrong on any of these fronts.
But have you ever considered the regions’ beaches as prime summer destinations? If not, let me try to convince you.
Especially as heatwaves begin to more frequently bake the continent due to climate change, more and more people are looking for alternatives to the Mediterranean coast that gets so very hot in summer. While the Atlantic regions are no longer immune to the heat (they’ve been dealt heavy blows from recent heatwaves like everyone else) overall the humidity is lower, nighttime temps are such that you can actually sleep, and the water does not feel like a hot tub. They also receive tons of sunshine in the summer months.
Weather aside, the coastline is simply beautiful. Rugged stretches give way to wide and sometimes hidden sandy beaches, many of which do not look like they belong on the Atlantic. There’s tons of bike paths along the coast and through the regions’ countryside, there’s decent surfing if you know where to look, plenty of boating opportunities for rentals and daytrips, and local summer oysters to indulge in with reckless abandon along side crisp white wines and cheesy galettes. (I’m making my mouth water, I need to move on.)
The biggest perk to me? There’s more of a local/French vibe than the very international heavy Mediterranean, making this stretch of coast the ticket to a “real” French beach holiday.
So where to go?
Once you start looking you’ll see just how many options there are. Read on for some of my favorites, all of which are firmly “very French” with relatively few international visitors, but know there are plenty more tucked into picturesque coves waiting for you to stumble upon them.
*Apologies for the small amount of photos here—many places I visited with an old digital whose photos I then had to print (yes, that long ago), no camera, or the photos were lost with a poorly timed stolen iphone. So, you’ll just have to go and see these amazing places for yourself.
This is the lovely village of Honfleur, well-worth a pit stop and lunch even if not on the list below. This should give you an idea, though, of how many villages in this part of France look and feel.
Île de Ré. Très chic et très cher (chic and expensive), it’s popular among the quiet luxury crowd and frequently tops lists of favorite summer destinations among the French. Check out La Rochelle as well, although the people who tend to visit each are arguably not always the same.
Île d’Oléron. The lower-key, less expensive, slightly more rustic cousin to Île de Ré but no less amazing. Some (me) would say it’s actually preferred with a less curated feel thus more authentic. Plenty of restaurants, biking, and beaches will keep you busy for days.
Îles de Glénon. Must arrive by boat, which does not mean you’ll be alone–no, not at all! But you will get to take a daytrip to some very pretty, undeveloped islands that will make you wonder if you’ve been teleported to the tropics. Leave from the scenic and idyllic Concarneau on this guy.
Classics like Dinard and La Baule. For a trip back in time that has plenty of modern day comforts, head to these old-school resort towns that will make you feel like you’re living in the Belle Époque.
Concale, a modern classic. While it’s always been a working town, the oyster capital of Brittany (which is saying a lot) is a great base for lovely, less-populated sandy beaches, hitting the GR34 trail along the coast, and providing a base for exploring area favorites of Mont St. Michel, D-Day sites, and St. Malo.
Walking out at low tide just outside of Cancale. This was winter time, and you can see the weather can still be nice even during this part of the year.
Étretat. For some dramatic cliffs (and cliff hikes) to go along with your beach, a hefty dose of art history, and just the right amount of kitsch and quaint spend a few days nearby, with plenty of dining just off the beach in town.
Étretat in early March, so you’ll have to use your imagination to add in sunshine, sailing, and even some surfing when the wind hits right.
Quiberon. Come to this French favorite for every kind of coastline imaginable, a small town feel with still plenty of amenities, and authentic French vibes. It’s great for families since there’s a lot to do right off the beach and it’s very (safely) walkable.
Belle Île en Mer. The even smaller, more secluded version of Quiberon (they’re connected via ferry) to spend some days relaxing and unwinding on a small island without giving up conveniences and comforts.
Bigouden/Cap Caval. Go here for the ultimate seclusion that’s still quite easily accessible from Quimper, the department’s capital, along with some surfing on Plage de Tronoen and coastal hikes.
These are just a hand-picked list of places I love. It’s not exhaustive, and others may have their own favorites. If that’s you and you care to share in the comments, please do! And let me know if you book a trip–I’d love to know which one you picked!
