6 - La Baule

Hotels in la Baule from £43 Compare all offers

With a nine-kilometre coastline, la Baule has more than enough beaches to rival other holiday hotspots in the country. La Baule isn't all sun and surf however. Also known as chic, there is lots to do if you want a break from the beach. Its nineteenth century villas at the heart of a pinewood forest demand an effort to get to, but once there, the long tiresome journey is soon forgotten. Every villa is different, making a mosaic of styles and materials, which reflects an eclectic local taste. As you stroll through la Baule's streets, you'll pass by a typical provincial house, followed by a Savoyard chalet or a Basque house next door. The same diversity exists in the surroundings too. Nature wraps itself around the village; the Parc Naturel de Brière, the wild coastline and swamplands. The fishing ports of Turbale and Croisic should also be added to your itinerary. Renowned for their sardines and anchovies, the ports are also a must. There is also the medieval city of Guérande, which reinforces the atmosphere of a time passed. La Baule's old-fashioned charm is what makes up its irrisistible appeal.

Deauville The Sables d'Olonne