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Travel Journal
Summer on France’s Atlantic Coast
From surf towns and oyster villages to wild islands off the coast of Brittany, our favourite places to spend summer on France’s Atlantic coast.
When people dream of a summer in France, they usually picture Provence or the French Riviera.
But every year, as soon as the weather gets warmer, a huge part of France heads west.
Towards the Atlantic.
Some go for the surf in Hossegor. Others return to the same family house in Brittany they’ve been visiting for generations. Some spend weeks cycling around Cap Ferret, while others disappear to small islands where life revolves around the tides.
What we love about the Atlantic coast is how varied it is. Within a few hours, you can go from pine forests and endless beaches to fishing villages, oyster farms, dramatic cliffs, and some of the most beautiful islands in France.
It’s also a different pace of summer. Less about being seen, more about being outside. Long walks, bike rides, fresh seafood, beach days, and villages that come alive in the evening once the heat has passed.
Hossegor
Hossegor has a reputation as France’s surf capital, but what keeps drawing us back is the atmosphere. You’ll find surfers cycling barefoot through town, beautiful villas hidden beneath pine trees, and some surprisingly good restaurants.
Unlike many seaside destinations, Hossegor still feels very local. The beaches stretch for miles, the pine forests provide shade during the hottest days, and there is a sense that people come here to enjoy the outdoors rather than to be seen.
Our Favourite Addresses
- Les Hortensias du Lac
- Cabane Perchée
- Monsieur Mouette
- Lac d’Hossegor at sunset
Cap Ferret
Tucked away between the Atlantic Ocean and Arcachon Bay, it has become a favourite summer destination for Parisians looking to escape the city. What we love most is that despite its popularity, it still manages to feel understated.
The charm of Cap Ferret isn’t found in grand hotels or glamorous beach clubs. It’s in oyster shacks overlooking the bay, wooden fishermen’s cabins, sandy paths through pine forests, and long bicycle rides between villages.
We often think Cap Ferret represents the best version of French summer living: simple, elegant and deeply connected to nature.
Our Favourite Addresses
- Chez Hortense
- Hôtel Côté Sable
- La Co(o)rniche (across the bay)
- Le Phare du Cap Ferret
Belle-Île-en-Mer
Located off the coast of Brittany, it is France’s largest island, yet somehow it still feels wonderfully untouched. The landscapes are dramatic, with wild cliffs, hidden coves, colourful harbours and windswept coastal paths.
We love spending days simply exploring. One moment you’re standing above crashing Atlantic waves, the next you’re wandering through a sleepy village where little seems to have changed in decades.
It’s impossible not to slow down here.
Our Favourite Addresses
- Castel Clara
- La Table de Castille
- Les Aiguilles de Port-Coton
- Le Palais
Deauville
For many people, it represents the classic image of a French seaside resort. The striped umbrellas, grand hotels, racecourse and famous boardwalk have become icons in their own right.
What keeps us returning isn’t necessarily the glamour, but the atmosphere. We love arriving early in the morning before the crowds appear, walking along the beach, browsing the market, and spending time exploring the beautiful streets lined with Anglo-Norman architecture.
It’s also one of the easiest coastal destinations to combine with a stay in Paris.
Our Favourite Addresses
- Les Planches
- Hôtel Barrière Le Normandy
- Les Vapeurs
- Marché de Deauville
Île de Batz
If there is one destination on this list that still feels like a secret, it’s Île de Batz.
Just a short ferry ride from Roscoff in Brittany, the island is tiny, peaceful and wonderfully simple. Cars are rare, bicycles are everywhere, and life follows the rhythm of the sea.
What makes the island so special is its sense of isolation. Even in the middle of summer, it feels far removed from the rest of the world.
It’s the kind of place where you spend an afternoon walking along the coastline without any particular destination in mind.
Our Favourite Addresses
- Jardin Georges Delaselle
- Hôtel de l’Europe in Roscoff
- Crêperie du Port
- Coastal walk around the island
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