With over 400 spots, France caters for all tastes. The Strait of Dover (right next door to Belgium, and better known in France as ‘Pas de Calais’) has deservedly made a name for itself, particularly with wave spots like Wissant, Sangatte and ...
France
Regions in France
Pas de Calais South
With over 400 spots, France caters for all tastes. The Strait of Dover (right next door to Belgium, and better known in France as ‘Pas de Calais’) has deservedly made a name for itself, particularly with wave spots like Wissant, Sangatte and ...
Upper Normandy
Upper Normandy’s sublime landscape differs only slightly from its northern neighbour. The deep blue of the Atlantic and the luminous white of the chalk bestow an almost translucent quality, which inspired impressionists like Claude Monet in their ...
Calvados
The Cotentin Peninsula forms the core of the region of Calvados. Between Le Havre and the Cotentin lies the land of the famous applejack brandy, Camembert cheese and “Débarquement” (the French name for the Allied landings, to which beaches like ...
La Manche
La Manche, on the Cotentin’s west coast is quite different. The peninsula’s exposed position opens it up to much more W to NW Atlantic swell than the rest of the English Channel – and especially in southerly winds there are perfect cross-shore ...
Côte d'Armor East
Neighbouring Brittany looks similar to Normandy, although their histories and traditions have evolved very differently. The ‘Breton’ language is still taught today, while national costumes and customs are kept alive via numerous religious ...
Northern Finistère
Im weiter westlichen Finistère, dem „Ende der Welt“, wechseln fjordartige Einschnitte, auf bretonisch „Abers“ oder „Avens“, mit hohen Klippen ab, an denen die Gischt bis zu 30 Meter hoch aufschießt. Neben der wilden Seite gibt es aber ...
Southern Finistère
But you can explore the beauty of Brittany without leaving the mainland in Southern Finistère. The Presqu-île de Crozon encapsulates the region’s diversity in a manageable space: wild and romantic landscapes, laid-back locals, and high quality ...
Pays de Lorient
The Pays de Lorient is sheltered from swell by Finistère so conditions stay much smaller. This region is most charming in summer; the highlights are the offshore Îles de Glénan with their almost Caribbean waters caressed by a reliable summer ...
Morbihan
Morbihan means “small sea” in Breton, and the Quiberon Peninsula is a real voyage of discovery: on one side, the Côte Sauvage with its top-notch waveriding beaches; on the other, incredibly flat water. The peninsula’s only 500m wide at its ...
Vendée
The abundance of sun in Pays de Lorient and [[REGION-229]] has helped derive the coast’s name, ‘Côte de Lumière’. Fashionable bathing resorts like La Baule punctuate small beaches offering freeride and moderate wave conditions. Aside from ...
Charente Maritime
A real Charente Maritime inside tip is the [[REGION-57]] in front of the historic harbour city of La Rochelle. It’s well-known as a posh bathing resort, but also welcomes windsports enthusiasts with its turquoise waters, especially mild ...
Île de Ré
A real Charente Maritime inside tip is the [[REGION-57]] in front of the historic harbour city of La Rochelle. It’s well-known as a posh bathing resort, but also welcomes windsports enthusiasts with its turquoise waters, especially mild ...
Aquitaine
In 1966, the Aquitaine ’s Silver Coast’ was popularised by a big article in American Surfer magazine: “The ultimate combination of good waves, warm water and hot ladies…” Soon enough, surfers from all over the world joined the pilgrimage ...
Languedoc Roussilon
The flat, wine-rich area of Languedoc Roussilon is peppered with shallow lakes and has impressive wind-stats of up to 250 days a year. Several standing-depth saltwater lakes provide the necessary safety when Tramontane blasts down from the Pyrenees ...
Camargue & Bouches du Rhône
In the wild, sandy Camargue & Bouches du Rhône region, Mistral from the Rhône Delta takes centre-stage – right up to the western reaches of the Côte d’Azur. The Camargue is best-known for its solitary sandy beaches, wild horses and ...
Marseille & Provence
At Port-Saint-Louis, on the border to the Bouches du Rhône, any romantic gypsy daydreams come to an abrupt end. Thankfully, the oil industry confines itself to the Golfe de Fos and Etang de Berre: the latter is a top kitesurfing location with ...
Côte d'Azur
Ever since Brigitte Bardot and Grace Kelly appeared on the scene, the Côte d'Azur has been associated with expensive yachts, fashionable hotels and film festivals. But blockbuster wave spots like Beauvallon and Gigaro can be enjoyed here too. Of ...
Northern Corsica
Corsica – “L’Ile de Beauté” and Napoleon’s birthplace – is the Mediterranean’s fourth biggest island. A length of 183km and a width of 85km produce some 1,000km of coastline thanks to the island’s jagged outline; the west coast is ...
Southern Corsica
Corsica – “L’Ile de Beauté” and Napoleon’s birthplace – is the Mediterranean’s fourth biggest island. A length of 183km and a width of 85km produce some 1,000km of coastline thanks to the island’s jagged outline; the west coast is ...