Recommendations for idyllic French town by the sea

[MrsToadflax]

Can anyone recommend a really pretty French town on the coast? We'd like somewhere with great architecture, some independent shops, perhaps a promenade and definitely a lovely patisserie and boulangerie etc. We will hire a car so can drive to local attractions. Would like somewhere interesting enough to keep DC (under 9) occupied, but not too built up.

Carnac, Deauville, Montpellier

we are spending a week in Antibes in August so I would love some tips from people who mentioned it.

Wow, just seen all these replies. Thank you, I will start researching! I think La Rochelle is bigger than I'm looking for, so will look at all the other recommendations.

Not sure what it’s like now but Benodet was beautiful, had a fab holiday there when I was younger

Antibes is fabulous. Amazing restaurants, incredibly pretty old town, gorgeous walks and not far from Nice airport. Perfect base for day trips to Cannes, Monaco etc too.

Talmont-Saint-Hilaire is lovely but a short distance from the coast, Les Sables-d’olonne is nice too. La Rochelle as others have said is nice but bigger than what you’re looking for.

Antibes lovely in itself and a fantastic base from which to easily and cheaply explore the Côte d’Azur by train. Can’t think of a train line that has so many amazing places along it!

We once tried to visit Collioure but we literally could not find anywhere to park so had to leave.

If you are thinking of staying there it might be worth checking the parking situation.

From Antibes you can get ouigo.com train tickets to lots of places at very cheap prices. The local bus system is 1 euro a ticket.

We go to Antibes in a week and I CANNOT WAIT!!!

We went a couple of weeks ago (well Juan Les Pins) and it was marvellous. I can highly recommend lunch at the Hotel Belle Rives on the terrace by the sea. And the open top mini bus tour that takes you out round Cap D'Antibes and the lighthouse. And the Ruban Bleu beach club. Picasso Museum also good.

If you go to La Rochelle or anywhere near there make sure you visit la puy de fou. It’s amazing.

Antibes!

Great thread OP, placemarking!

Does Puy de fou still use wild animals in its show?

We like Antibes too.

Great thread, place marking for holiday research for next year!

La Rochelle

@MissAmbrosia could I ask what your opinion was of Antibes versus Juan les Pins? Which is best as a base?

If you want something really pretty try the French island of Corsica and go to the capital Ajaccio. There are direct flights in the Spring/Summer from the UK and you rent a car at the airport. You won't find more beautiful beaches anywhere else in France. Nice food too, a combination of French and Italian. The town has lots of independent shops. It is not the cheapest place to holiday to but if you have car you will also be able to visit the countryside and various villages. If you are after a bit of history there is a museum in the town and as Ajaccio is the birthplace of Napoleon there are a few things to visit as well relating to him and his family. You can also do sight-seeing boat trips for a day or half a day.

St Jean de Luz. My favourite town in France.

Port grimaud

If you go to La Rochelle keep an eye out for Jacques Malchance !

I also love Talmont but not really a beachy town.

If you want to go further then Marseillan or Gruissan - both close to Narbonne, Beziers and Carcassone which are all lovely.

Ahh great thread. You can't beat Brittany for this kind of thing I think, although Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz are lovely. I think think Arcachon also fits the bill architecture-wise.

I had the same situation with parking in Collioure as mentioned above. It was completely rammed.

Talmont is lovely in that area too.
La Palmyre isn't far, it's quite busy during the holiday season, but fabulous for beaches and cycling and entertaining the kids. It's my favourite place and when I learn enough french and have enough money, I'll be hotfooting it over there forever!

Tranche sur mer, is also very nice too.