Le Croisic is a charming resort town on the Côte d’Amour (Coast of Love) in northwestern France’s Pays de la Loire region. As for what to see in Le Croisic, the area is home to sandy beaches, magnificent cliffs, and a vibrant cultural life, as evidenced by its beautiful town centre.
If you’re visiting mainly for the sun and sea, you can choose between several beaches in Le Croisic: Plage de Port Lin, Plage de Saint-Goustan, Baie du Castouillet, Baie du Crucifix and Plage des Sables Menus.
This guide will take you on a walking tour of Le Croisic that can be completed in half a day, or one day if you prefer to explore slowly. You’ll start and finish at the Gare du Croisic (Le Croisic Train Station). Let’s go!
Contents
- Is Le Croisic worth visiting?
- Gare du Croisic (Le Croisic Train Station) – START HERE
- Mont Esprit (Mount Spirit)
- Port du Croisic (Port of Le Croisic)
- Quai de la Petite Chambre (Quay of the Little Room)
- Rue du Pilori (Street of the Pillory) and Rue Saint-Christophe (Saint Christopher Street)
- Jardin de l’Hôtel de Ville (Garden of the Town Hall)
- La Galerie Chapleau (The Chapleau Gallery)
- Église Notre-Dame de Pitié du Croisic (Notre-Dame de Pitié Church of Le Croisic)
- Place Donatien Lepré (Donatien Lepré Square)
- Port de Pêche du Croisic (Fishing Port of Le Croisic)
- Mont Lénigo (Mount Lénigo)
- Phare du Tréhic (Lighthouse of the Tréhic)
- Océanarium du Croisic (Oceanarium of Le Croisic)
- Plage de Saint-Goustan (Saint Goustan Beach)
- Chapelle de Saint-Goustan (Saint Goustan Chapel)
- Manoir de Kervaudau (Kervaudau Manor)
- Baie du Castouillet (Bay of the Castouillet)
- Croix des Douaniers (Cross of the Customs Officers)
- La Côte Sauvage (The Wild Coast)
- Rocher de l’Ours (Rock of the Bear)
- Menhir de la Pierre Longue du Croisic (Menhir of the Long Stone of Le Croisic)
- Plage des Sables Menus (Beach of the Fine Sands)
- Parc de Penn-Avel (Penn-Avel Park)
- Plage de Port Lin (Port Lin Beach)
- Baie du Crucifix (Bay of the Crucifix)
- Chapelle du Crucifix du Croisic (Chapel of the Crucifix of Le Croisic)
- Other destinations near Le Croisic
Is Le Croisic worth visiting?
- Beaches, sea and cliffs – Whether your goal is to sunbathe and swim or walk along the crest of dramatic granite cliffs, Le Croisic is a good choice for exploring the Côte d’Amour (Coast of Love).
- Charming seaside town in any season – The town centre of Le Croisic is lovely and has quite a few places of interest that stay open all year round. This is great for those looking to visit attractions, cultural or otherwise, in addition to the beach.
- Highly walkable – Le Croisic can be easily explored by walking in a loop starting and ending at the train station (this guide shows you how), so you don’t need a car.
- Easy to reach from major cities – There are numerous trains to Le Croisic from Nantes and Saint-Nazaire and it is also possible to visit by train from Rennes and Paris.
Gare du Croisic (Le Croisic Train Station) – START HERE
If you’re coming and leaving by train, which I highly recommend, this walking tour will be very easy to follow. If you follow this guide in order, your visit will start and end at the train station. From the train station, we’ll first walk through the town centre and follow the north coast before crossing over to the south coast and making our way back to the train station.
Mont Esprit (Mount Spirit)
As you leave the Gare du Croisic (Le Croisic Train Station), you’ll see Mont Esprit (Mount Spirit), a 26 m-tall man-made hill that can be climbed quickly and easily using the steps cut into its face. It’s worth the climb, thanks to panoramic views over Le Croisic from the summit. Created in the 18th century, Mont Esprit (Mount Spirit) was transformed into a public garden in 1816.
Port du Croisic (Port of Le Croisic)
As you walk towards the town centre, you’ll come across Le Croisic’s marina, which houses pleasure and fishing boats.
Quai de la Petite Chambre (Quay of the Little Room)
The quay running along the Port du Croisic (Port of Le Croisic) is one of Le Croisic’s major waterfront entertainment areas, with a wide selection of restaurants and bars.
Rue du Pilori (Street of the Pillory) and Rue Saint-Christophe (Saint Christopher Street)
If you would like to see some quaint historic architecture, I would suggest walking down Rue du Pilori (Street of the Pillory), which connects to Rue Saint-Christophe (Saint Christopher Street), where you’ll find cute examples of half-timbered houses.
In particular, check out the cute half-timbered house at 35 Rue Saint-Christophe, which has been gazetted as a historic monument.
Jardin de l’Hôtel de Ville (Garden of the Town Hall)
Every commune in France has its own Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall), and Le Croisic’s happens to be a lovely one populated by exotic plants, particularly from South America.
Look out for the Canon du Croisic (Le Croisic Cannon), a 17th-century cannon retrieved from the shipwreck of a boat belonging to King of France Louis XIV, which sank during the Bataille des Cardinaux (Battle of Quiberon Bay) during the Seven Years’ War.
La Galerie Chapleau (The Chapleau Gallery)
This art gallery is publicly-owned and displays the work of post-impressionist artist Eugene-Jean Chapleau, as well as other artists. The collection was bequeathed to the town of Le Croisic after his death.
Église Notre-Dame-de-Pitié du Croisic (Notre-Dame-de-Pitié Church of Le Croisic)
This Flamboyant Gothic church is Le Croisic’s most prominent, and is officially a national monument. The church building dates back to the 16th century. During the French Revolution, it was used as a Republican temple, which means it was seized by the revolutionary government, deconsecrated and used for other purposes. It also served as an artillery warehouse and a stable before being restored to its former function.
Place Donatien Lepré (Donatien Lepré Square)
Place Donatien Lepré (Donatien Lepré Square) is one of the most recognisable public squares in Le Croisic and dates back to the 18th century.
It is most notably home to the Hôtel d’Aiguillon (Aiguillon Hotel), a 17th-century private mansion, which was used as the city’s town hall until 2008. Today, the square is a popular photo-taking spot thanks to its concentration of historic buildings.
Port de Pêche du Croisic (Fishing Port of Le Croisic)
Le Croisic’s fishing port is located near a selection of fishmongers and restaurants serving the catch of the day. You can buy local seafood and products at the Marché du port (Market of the Port), which takes place on Friday mornings.
Mont Lénigo (Mount Lénigo)
Mont Lénigo (Mount Lénigo) is one of the most scenic areas in the city centre. This hill runs alongside the port, offering lovely views of the sea and la Pointe de Pen-Bron (Pen-Bron Point). Look out for the intricate and very usable sundial.
Phare du Tréhic (Lightouse of the Tréhic)
This iconic lighthouse was built in the 19th century, and is situated at the end of the long Jetée du Tréhic (Jetty of the Tréhic), which offers a nice walk amidst lapping waves.
Océanarium du Croisic (Oceanarium of Le Croisic)
This large aquarium houses more than 4,000 marine animals, including a variety of sharks and rays. It is considered one of the most visited aquariums in France.
Plage de Saint-Goustan (Saint Goustan Beach)
If you’re exploring the north coast of Le Croisic on foot, you’ll quickly come across Plage de Saint-Goustan (Saint Goustan Beach) off the Baie de Saint-Goustan (Saint-Goustan Bay), not far from the Océanarium du Croisic (Oceanarium of Le Croisic). This wide, sandy beach is supervised in summer and is popular with families thanks to its shallow waters.
Chapelle de Saint-Goustan (Saint Goustan Chapel)
Just behind the Plage de Saint-Goustan (Saint-Goustan Beach), you might be able to spot the Chapelle de Saint-Goustan (Saint Goustan Chapel) hidden on the grounds of a private property but still visible over the wall. Dating back to the 11th century, it is designated as a historic monument but is no longer used for religious purposes and is unfortunately not open to visits.
Manoir de Kervaudau (Kervaudau Manor)
If you’re motivated enough to take a 10-minute walk inland from the beach, you’ll be rewarded with the sight of the Manoir de Kervaudau (Kervaudau Manor), a rural manor belonging to a wealthy Protestant in the 16th century. It was later passed down to several other notable families.
Baie du Castouillet (Bay of the Castouillet)
Overlooking the Baie du Castouillet (Bay of the Castouillet), which is protected by a strip of rock, the Plage du Castouillet (Beach of the Castouillet) is located on the north-western coast of Le Croisic. The waters here are calm and excellent for swimming.
Croix des Douaniers (Cross of the Customs Officers)
You will come across this stone cross, also known as the Croix Saint-Jean (Saint John Cross), when you cross Le Croisic on foot from north to south, departing from Plage du Castouillet (Beach of the Castouillet). It dates back to the 18th century, and served as a shelter for customs officers patrolling the Pointe du Croisic (Point of the Croisic) in bad weather–they’d sit on the tiny benches at the base of the cross!
La Côte Sauvage (The Wild Coast)
Walk along Avenue de la Pierre Longue (Avenue of the Long Stone) to admire la Côte Sauvage (the Wild Coast) in the south of Le Croisic. Jagged rocks and thundering waves are the hallmark of this magnificent stretch of coastline. You can follow the coast all the way back to the southeastern end of Le Croisic, before turning left to get back to the train station—but don’t miss the following sights along the way.
Rocher de l’Ours (Rock of the Bear)
This rock, in the shape of the profile of a bear’s head, is the most famous rock in Le Croisic. It’s located along the coast close to and slightly to the left (when facing the sea) of the intersection of Route de la Vigie (Road of the Lookout) and Avenue de la Pierre Longue (Avenue of the Long Stone).
Menhir de la Pierre Longue du Croisic (Menhir of the Long Stone of Le Croisic)
This tall and slim standing stone from the Neolithic period, located on the coast slightly to the left (when facing the sea) of the intersection of Avenue de la Pierre Longue (Avenue of the Long Stone) and Rue de la ville d’Ys (Road of the City of Ys), was previously located a few metres inland, and was moved to its current position in the years after WWII.
Plage des Sables Menus (Beach of the Fine Sands)
Plage des Sables Menus (Beach of the Fine Sands), which overlooks the Baie des Sables Menues (Bay of the Fine Sands), is a small, beautiful beach bordered by magnificent cliffs on either side.
Parc de Penn-Avel (Penn-Avel Park)
This park is located a stone’s throw from the sea, and was created as part of a wealthy family’s private holiday home. Today, it is public property and a popular picnic spot.
Plage de Port Lin (Port Lin Beach)
Plage de Port Lin (Port Lin Beach) is probably the most popular beach amongst visitors to Le Croisic, and it’s easy to see why—it’s within walking distance of the train station, supervised during peak season, is close to beachside accommodation and offers a wide range of amenities such as showers and beach volleyball nets. On the east end of the beach, you’ll see the grand Manoir de Pen Castel (Pen Castel Manoir).
Baie du Crucifix (Bay of the Crucifix)
This bay, located at the border between Le Croisic and neighbouring seaside town Batz-sur-Mer, is fronted by a collection of sandy beaches punctuated by rocks and coves.
Chapelle du Crucifix du Croisic (Chapel of the Crucifix of Le Croisic)
As you walk inland towards the train station, you’ll come across this chapel, originally built in around 1540 at the behest of a rich local shipowner. It was later restored by a wealthy family into whose hands it fell in the 19th century—if you look closely at the stained glass windows, you might be able to spot their coat of arms.
From the Chapelle du Crucifix du Croisic (Chapel of the Crucifix of Le Croisic), you can walk back to the Gare du Croisic (Le Croisic Train Station) in about 12 minutes. Before you set off for the train station, you can also catch a glimpse of the salt flats in neighbouring Batz-sur-Mer which lie on the other side of Rue du Croisic.
Other destinations near Le Croisic
- Le Croisic is a quick train ride away from major cities Nantes and Saint-Nazaire, and is also reachable by train from Rennes.
- The Côte d’Amour (Coast of Love) is home to other seaside towns such as Batz-sur-Mer, Le Pouliguen, La Baule-Escoublac and Pornichet.
- Guérande, which is famous for salt production and its salt marshes, can be reached by bus from Le Croisic or by car in under half an hour.
