Anyone traveled Atlantic coast of France? My sister and I have been to Loire, Dordogne, Alps, and French Mediterranean and this year are doing a Paris plus trip. We both love the sea so thought Atlantic might be different, but Rick Steves doesn't mention that area at all. We love the very french architecture, and quaint villages and are looking for an interesting driving route to and from destination (La Rochelle?) to Paris. Any tips?
Posted by
St. Louis, MO USA
1976 posts
Hi Doreen. You'd get better advice if you posed this in the "To the West" section. Trip Reports is for people to describe trips they already took.
Posted by
Lake Oswego, Oregon
1315 posts
Doreen - I haven't been to La Rochelle but I did like Arcachon and Cap Ferret on the Atlantic coast. Not sure you want to drive that far but Cap Ferret is not touristy and has beautiful sandy beaches and dunes. Stay at Hotel des Pins.
Posted by
Seattle
2 posts
Hi Doreen,
I have been to Ile de Re, Ile de Oleron, Arcachon and St Jean de Luz on the Atlantic Coast. Of these, Ile de Oleron and St Jean de Luz are the best. However, St Jean de Luz is very far south near the Spanish border. Ile de Oleron is a pretty island accessible by causeway. We stayed in Le Chateau d'Oleron at a very nice small hotel, Les Jardins D'Alienor - really nice rooms and great food. The Atlantic coast feels really different than the Mediterranean - beaches are sandy. Most tourists are French.