Atlantic Coast

France's Atlantic coast stretches for almost 2,000 kilometers from the Belgian border to the Basque Country — and is the exact opposite of the Côte d'Azur: rougher, wilder, less chic, but precisely for that reason, for many, the more authentic coastal section.

The Brittany in the northwest is the Celtic soul of France. Granite cliffs plunge into the stormy sea, lighthouses defy the surf, and the tides are among the strongest in Europe — in the bay of Mont Saint-Michel, the tidal range is up to 15 meters. The Pink Granite Coast (Côte de Granit Rose) near Ploumanac'h and the Pointe du Raz at the western tip are first-class natural spectacles.

Further south lies the Vendée with its wide sandy beaches and family-friendly seaside resorts. The Île de Ré off La Rochelle — connected by an elegant bridge — is with its whitewashed houses, salt marshes, and bike paths the Sylt of the French.

The Bassin d'Arcachon near Bordeaux is famous for its oysters, the Dune du Pilat (at 110 meters the highest wandering dune in Europe), and the endless pine forests of the Landes — the largest contiguous forest area in Western Europe, artificially created in the 19th century to drain the swamps.

At the very south, the Basque Coast shines: Biarritz is the surf capital of Europe, the fishing village Saint-Jean-de-Luz is a picture-book place, and the waves of Anglet and Hossegor attract surfers from all over the world.