La Côte d’Amour (romantically translated as the Coast of Love), where Le Pouliguen is located, is home to some of the most sought-after beaches on the west coast of France.
When people ask me what to see in Le Pouliguen, the first thing that comes to mind is walking! The dramatic coastline in the coastal area within the Côte d’Amour known as the presqu’île guérandaise (the Guerande Peninsula) is also known as the Côte Sauvage (the Wild Coast), thanks to its jagged rocks and steep cliffs. This whole area was historically part of Brittany, but now belongs to the Pays de la Loire region.
Of course, there’s nothing stopping you from simply enjoying the beach at Le Pouliguen if that’s your jam. Le Pouliguen is just one of many famous seaside resort towns on the Côte d’Amour, the others being La Baule-Escoublac, Le Croisic, Batz-sur-Mer and Pornichet.
I have written guides for all of the above destinations, and they all have certain things in common: sandy beaches, interspersed with spectacular granite cliffs.
But if I had to pick a personal favourite, it would be Le Pouliguen! I’m more into walking along the coastline than lying on the beach, and Le Pouliguen is a delight to explore on foot. You can explore the entire coastal area and enjoy all the top things to see in Le Pouliguen in half a day.
This post will take you on a walking tour, starting and finishing at the train station, that can be completed in half a day, covering what to see in Le Pouliguen. Let’s go!
Contents
- Why is Le Pouliguen worth visiting?
- Gare du Pouliguen (Le Pouliguen Train Station) – START HERE
- Marché des Halles du Pouliguen (Le Pouliguen Market)
- Église Saint-Nicolas (Saint Nicholas Church)
- Promenade du Port (Port Boardwalk)
- Jetée du Pouliguen (Le Pouliguen Jetty)
- Plage du Nau (Nau Beach)
- Bois du Pouliguen (Le Pouliguen Woods)
- Chapelle Sainte-Anne / Chapelle Saint-Julien / Chapelle de Penchâteau (Saint Anne Chapel / Saint Julian Chapel, Penchâteau Chapel)
- Musée Bernard Boesch (Bernard Boesch Museum)
- Plage de l’anse de Toulin (Toulin Cove Beach)
- Plage de Renadin (Renadin Beach)
- Pointe de Penchâteau (Penchâteau Point)
- Croix losangique du Pouliguen (Le Pouliguen Cross)
- Baie de Labégo (Labégo Bay)
- Baie des Maures (Bay of the Moors)
- Plage Tahiti (Tahiti Beach) and Crique de Pierre Plate (Flat Stone Creek)
- Plage du Guec (Guec Beach)
- Grotte des Jumelles (Twins Cave)
- Baie de la Bonne Vierge (Bay of the Virgin)
- Grotte des Korrigans (Cave of the Korrigans)
- Baie du Scall (Scall Bay)
- Other destinations near Le Pouliguen
Why is Le Pouliguen worth visiting?
- Beaches, sea and cliffs – Le Pouliguen is home to sandy beaches, picturesque bays and spectacular granite cliffs, and is a great destination if you’re looking to swim in the sea, enjoy the ambiance of a seaside town or go on long walks along the jagged coastline.
- Highly walkable – Geographically speaking, Le Pouliguen lends itself very easily to exploration on foot or by bicycle. You don’t need a car to explore Le Pouliguen—simply take the train to the Gare du Pouliguen (Pouliguen Train Station), walk to town and then follow the famous Promenade du Port to the beach. From there, you can just follow the coastline on foot.
- Interesting even in cold weather – The walk along the rocky coastline is spectacular in any season so long as it isn’t raining.
- Easily reachable from major cities – It is easy to get to Le Pouliguen from Nantes, Saint-Nazaire, Rennes or other major cities by train, so makes a great weekend getaway or day trip.
Gare du Pouliguen (Le Pouliguen Train Station) – START HERE
This is where your adventure will start if you’ve come to Le Pouliguen by train. There are frequent train services from major cities like Nantes.
Marché des Halles du Pouliguen (Le Pouliguen Market)
Many towns and cities in France have a local market known as “Les Halles”, where fresh produce is sold. At the Marché des Halles (Pouliguen Market), which is just a 10-minute walk from the train station, you can grab a quick meal or some local souvenirs such as cheeses and conserves.
Église Saint-Nicolas (Saint Nicholas Church)
This neogothic church was built in 1860 to replace an earlier church. Look out for the votive ship, a model ship of the kind often found in churches in maritime towns in France.
Promenade du Port (Port Boardwalk)
This is the town’s famous seaside boardwalk, and is a nice place for a daytime or evening stroll. The boardwalk is lined with eateries, ice cream shops, sweet shops, boutiques, games machines and a carousel.
Jetée du Pouliguen (Le Pouliguen Jetty)
The recognisable jetée du Pouliguen (Le Pouliguen Jetty) is situated at the far end of the town’s boardwalk. From the jetty, you can enjoy views over la Baie du Pouliguen (Le Pouliguen Bay) and can see in the distance the bigger and more well-known seaside resort, La Baule-Escoublac.
Plage du Nau (Nau Beach)
The Plage du Nau (Nau Beach) is Le Pouliguen’s biggest and most easily accessible beach, being located right next to the boardwalk. This family-friendly, supervised beach is over 200 m long, with gentle waves, toilets and shower facilities and a lifeguard on duty in summer. If you’re wondering what to do in Le Pouliguen and are looking for activities, you’ll find facilities such as volleyball courts and water sports rentals on this beach.
Bois du Pouliguen (Le Pouliguen Woods)
Located just behind the Plage du Nau (Nau Beach), le Bois du Pouliguen (Le Pouliguen Woods) is a little patch of greenery equipped with tennis and basketball courts. It’s a pleasant spot for a short walk or a picnic lunch at one of the many benches.
Chapelle Sainte-Anne / Chapelle Saint-Julien / Chapelle de Penchâteau (Saint Anne Chapel / Saint Julian Chapel, Penchâteau Chapel)
This little chapel goes by several names, and is located where the Breton village of Penchâteau once stood. Although it often goes by the name Chapelle Saint Anne (Saint Anne Chapel), it is actually dedicated to Saint Julien (Saint Julian).
Musée Bernard Boesch (Bernard Boesch Museum)
Local artist Bernard Boesch (1914-2005) donated a villa to the local government, which now houses a museum showcasing his works and life. It also hosts temporary exhibitions held by young visiting artists in residence–there is a second wing just across the street from the main museum. It is free to visit, but check their schedule as opening hours can be limited.
Plage de l’anse de Toulin (Toulin Cove Beach)
This stretch of beach is just a narrow stretch of sand behind the Musée Bernard Boesch (Bernard Boesch Museum) at high tide, but at low tide it becomes much longer, enabling you to walk along a coastline bordered by glamorous holiday homes
Plage de Renadin (Renadin Beach)
This small beach is located at the end of the Rue de Renadin (Renadin Road). It is a popular starting point for fishing, kayaking and windsurfing hobbyists.
Pointe de Penchâteau (Penchâteau Point)
At the southeasternmost point of Le Pouliguen, you’ll find a discreet viewpoint marked by stairs leading downwards. At high tide, you’ll enjoy views of the sea and cliffs, but at low tide you can descend to the beach at the base of the ramparts of the ancient village of Penchâteau, flanked by ornate and more recent buildings.
Croix losangique du Pouliguen (Le Pouliguen Cross)
This cross, perched above the cliffs by the sea, is a lozenge- or diamond-shaped landmark overlooking the Baie de Labégo (Labégo Bay). The lozenge shape symbolises strength and union.
Baie de Labégo (Labégo Bay)
The Baie de Labégo (Labégo Bay) is home to one of several beautiful beaches in the south of Le Pouliguen, on the Côte Sauvage (Wild Coast), a stone’s throw from the Croix losangique du Pouliguen (Pouliguen Cross). Characterised by sandy beaches flanked by imposing cliffs, this is a much more scenic area to sunbathe and swim than the main beach, Plage du Nau (Nau Beach), and is well worth the journey on foot or by bicycle.
Baie des Maures (Bay of the Moors)
Adjacent to the Baie de Labégo (Labégo Bay) is the Baie des Maures (Bay of the Moors), with similar sandy beaches and breathtaking cliffs.
Plage Tahiti (Tahiti Beach) and Crique de Pierre Plate (Flat Stone Creek)
Sandwiched in between a narrow outcrop and the Crique de Pierre Plate (Flat Stone Creek) is a narrow sandy beach that has earned the nickname Plage Tahiti (Tahiti Beach), thanks to its turquoise waters.
Plage du Guec (Guec Beach)
This is another sandy beach offering a view of rock formations rising out of the water.
Grotte des Jumelles (Twins Cave)
There are numerous caves in Le Pouliguen, and the Grotte des Jumelles (Twins Cave) is one of the most popular. Accessible only at low tide, this cave is accessible via two different openings.
Baie de la Bonne Vierge (Bay of the Virgin)
The Baie de la Bonne Vierge (Bay of the Virgin), which is also home to a beach of the same name that, while beautiful, is also quite rocky and is thus not well-suited to swimming.
Grotte des Korrigans (Cave of the Korrigans)
The Grotte des Korrigans (Cave of the Korrigans) is the most accessible cave in Le Pouliguen, and is signposted. In Breton folklore, the korrigan is a sort of little gnome or imp. Legend has it that, deep inside the cave, there is a magic door leading to the world of the korrigans, where they hide their treasure.
Baie du Scall (Scall Bay)
The Baie du Scall (Scall Bay) is located on the border between Le Pouliguen and neighbouring Batz-sur-Mer, which is also a popular seaside resort town. The beach is fairly broad and the waters calm.
Note: If you arrived by train and followed the entire circuit described in this article, simply follow Avenue Moreau, which is located just behind the Baie du Scall (Scall Bay). From there, use Google Maps to navigate on foot and you should find yourself at the Gare du Pouliguen (Le Pouliguen Train Station) in 37 minutes.
Other destinations near Le Pouliguen
- Major cities near Le Pouliguen include Nantes, Saint-Nazaire and Rennes, all of which can be reached via train.
- Le Pouliguen is very near other seaside resort towns on the Côte d’Amour (Coast of Love), including Le Croisic, Batz-sur-Mer, La Baule-Escoublac and Pornichet.
- Guérande, a scenic historic town famous for its salt marshes, is a quick car or bus ride away from Le Pouliguen. You can even get to Guérande from Le Pouliguen by bicycle or walk there in 1.5 hours.
