Pays de la Loire
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Positives
- Mix of reefs and beaches
- Secluded island spots
- Wind & swell options
- Year-round waves
Negatives
- Lower NW swell exposure
- Winter onshores
- Tidally sensitive
- Crowds near cities
Pays de la Loire surf travel guide
Pays de la Loire includes the départment of Vendée - aptly named Côte de Lumière. Lumière means ‘light’ and it’s a fact that this region receives the highest sunshine hours on the French Atlantic coast. It’s an intriguing mix of Brittany’s broken up coastline and Aquitaine’s long straight sand dunes, with a good selection of underrated waves. There is a bit of a N-NW swell shadow from Brittany due to an extended continental shelf, so the beachbreaks don’t quite have the power of the spots in Aquitaine. However, some interesting points and reefs can be found between the beachbreaks. Proximity to Saint Nazaire, Nantes and some large coastal towns ensures crowds at the best spots.
Surf spots in Pays de la Loire
Research the 16 surf breaks in Pays de la Loire and discover what spots suit the current conditions.
Break lowdown
We’ve collated the wave data giving you a unique insight into the 16 breaks in Pays de la Loire.
When to go
Surf and weather statistics to help plan your surf trip to Pays de la Loire
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Library
Helpful surf travel videos and articles featuring Pays de la Loire.
Travel Information
General
- Current Time
- Tourists
- 89,322,000
- Population
- 65,273,511
- Tourist Info
- Tourist Info
Security
Health
Money
- Currency
- EUR
- Exchange rate
- $1 = 1 Euro EUR
Cost of living
Communication
- Dialing in
- +33
- Dialing out
- 00
- Emergencies
- 112
- Language
- French
Electricity
- Plug Type
- ek
Visas
France is a Schengen state and citizens of most European countries, USA, Australia, Canada and New Zealand do not require visas. All others, including South Africans and those planning to stay more than three months, must obtain a visa from the French consulate in their home country.
Getting There
Ryanair connects Nantes to regional airports in Ireland, UK and Marseille. Easyjet and Air France links Nantes to Lyon in eastern France.
The departments of Loire Atlantique and Vendée are served by train via Nantes at many spots along the coast including Saint-Nazaire and Les Sables d'Olonne (2.5-4hr from Paris Montparnasse).
The A11 motorway will get you the 450kms to the coast from Paris in about 4h30.
Getting Around
There are many local buses, but getting to the surf is really going to require a car as there are few major towns.
Accommodation
There is little in the way of bespoke accommodation for surfers in the region as far as surf camps go. There are lots of straight tourist options in the seasonal camping (fr €17/n) to Holiday Villages (fr €273/wk) to Chambres d'hôtes (fr €65/n, high season). Gastronomic delights include fish, shellfish, duck, haricot beans, goat cheeses, butter and a stuffing paté called Farci Poitevin. The famous Tourteau Fromagé local cheesecake is a must-taste and brioche is another proud local product of the Vendée.
Activities
One of the biggest tourist drawcards to the region is the Zoo de La Palmyre in Royan where the 1600 animals are housed in spacious enclosures (although we doubt the polar bears agree) and interaction with some species is possible. This region of France is very low-lying with salt marshes and forests planted to help stabilize the coastal strip. Golf, boating, horse riding and cycling are all well catered for in the warmer months.
Hazards & hassles
This region is really quiet from October to April with many businesses shut down till the tourists return. La Cote Sauvage has earned its name with Hossegor-like rips and slamming lips. It always takes longer than you think to get around on the slower D roads. It’s expensive to surf the islands, especially Ile d’Yeu which is around €18 e/w and then you need to rent a bicycle or take the bus.
Handy Hints
There are year-round surf shops in the bigger towns like St Gilles Croix de Vie, Sables d’Olonne, La Rochelle and Saint-Pierre-d’Oleron. April, May and June can be ideal as weather is good before main tourist season kicks in.
Due to global pandemic, Visas, Getting There, Getting Around or Accommodation information and pricing may have changed. Always check Government Travel Advice before travelling.