Millions of tourists flock to the south of France every year. They go for the glamour wrought by events like the Cannes Film Festival. They go for the often searing temperatures. They go for the quality of the beaches. If you haven’t guessed yet, that means the beaches in the south of France are extremely impressive indeed. There’s a very distinct feel to this region of the country, a distinct atmosphere. Yes, it’s a favourite with passing film stars and hotshot directors, but it’s also so much more than that.
In the south of France, there’s a beach for everyone. With great deals on Chez Nous French cottage holidays there are even more reasons to make a visit. You’ve got your celebrity beaches on which you might catch a glimpse of somebody rather special whilst supping on your cocktails. You’ve got your family friendly beaches on which your kids can run around and enjoy themselves in safe and beautiful surroundings. You’ve also got your rugged, wild beaches that give way to mountains and forests and marshes. There’s a beach for everyone in the south of France. Here’s a handy guide to the best beaches in this region.
Nikki Beach, St Tropez
Nikki Beach is probably the most famous beach in the south of France, purely because it hosts the annual Cannes Film Festival beach party. It’s a fairly long stretch of beach but it does get incredibly busy in the summertime. If you want to top up your tan somewhere luxurious – get yourself down to Nikki Beach. Do try to keep your cool though. Hollywood stars are more or less commonplace here and you don’t want to turn into a screaming super fan the moment you see one. If want to fit in whilst tanning on Nikki Beach, you’ve got to act like you’re a star too. Fr2Day.com journalist Jennifer Paterson points out that there’s a very famous nudist beach just a few miles down the sand. Plage de Tahiti is not suitable for families but it is a risqué and exciting foray for the more adventurous holidaymaker.
Ile de Riou, Marseille, Procence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur
Ile de Riou isn’t actually part of the French mainland – it’s a small island that sits just off the coast of Marseille. Passenger ferries across to the island are regular though, so you’re free to enjoy this region of the country as and when you like. A lot of tour operators offer day trips and excursions to its tiny beaches and beautiful, hidden coves. The beach on Ile de Riou is small and very isolated, so if you’re looking for seclusion – you’re bound to love it here. The area is also home to an ‘undersea forest,’ making it ideal for anybody with a penchant for diving or snorkelling says UTrip.com.
Paloma Plage, Cap Ferrat
Cap Ferrat is reportedly one of the richest and most luxurious areas in Europe. If you don’t believe it, get this – Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are rumoured to have indulged in a bit of late night skinny dipping on Paloma Plage just a few years ago. Now, if the most famous couple in the world can get naked on the beach without being photographed, you know it must be an exclusive area. Paloma Page is popular with divers on account of its crystal clear waters and beautiful, shallow bays. There are a lot of private areas in this region but there’s an extremely attractive public stretch of beach too.
Plage de l’Almanarre, Giens
Plage de l’Almanarre is located between Nice and Marseille. It’s a very small but very beautiful beach close to the secluded village of Giens. This area is especially popular with kite surfers and wind surfers because it’s fairly rocky and can get quite windswept at times. There also happens to be a spot of marshland just behind the beach. It’s home to a community of wild flamingos, apparently. If it’s exoticism that you’re looking for – you’ll find it at Plage de l’Almanarre.
La Corniche, Sete
This beach is located just beside the coastal port of La Corniche, say the experts at GoSouthFrance.com. It’s a very large beach with attractive views and in the summertime, there are lots of bars and restaurants set up along its perimeter. This does mean that it can get quite busy during peak season. However, if you’re up for a bit of a walk – you’ll find a much quieter, much thinner portion of the beach just a few miles down the sand.
Author Bio:
Sarah is a British student currently living and working in the south of France. She can usually be found blogging about her adventures in France or serving drinks to thirsty tourists on the beach. She recommends Chez Nous to anybody looking for a top quality French cottage holiday.
