Pornic

A seaside resort on the Côte de Jade

Pornic is a small commune of 14,000 inhabitants in the Loire-Atlantique département. It is also part of the historic Bretagne and lies on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. It borders the Bernerie-en-Retz to the south and Saint-Père-en-Retz to the north. It is one of the seaside resorts on the Côte de Jade, an area stretching from the Breton marshes to the Loire estuary. Jules Verne, Albert Camus and Pierre-Auguste Renoir all made it their holiday destination, and were already enjoying its charms, not least its gastronomy. Its restaurateurs love to introduce travellers to the culinary traditions of the Pays de Retz. For example, you can try fish specialities such as sea bass in a salt crust and shad stuffed with sorrel. And don't miss the chance to sample a tasty fruit sorbet at La Fraiseraie, a renowned ice cream parlour in the region.

Cultural leisure and sporting activities

Pornic attracts holidaymakers with its beautiful beaches and rich historical heritage. The latter is epitomised, for example, by the church of Sainte-Marie, a neo-Gothic monument that houses two exceptional works. Here you can admire the tombstone of Guillaume des Bretesches and the statue of Notre Dame de Tabernacle. The Château de Pornic is another tourist attraction, but only its courtyards can be visited. The building belonged to the Lords of Rais in the 12th century and is located on the north shore of the harbour. The harbour is a delight for yachtsmen, who benefit from a very pleasant natural setting. During your stay, discover the Dolmen de la Joselière, a megalithic tomb dating from the Middle Neolithic, and the Dolmen du Prédaire. The Pornic pony-club riding centre is sure to fascinate your children! It boasts modern facilities and is ideal for horse-riding under optimum safety conditions. In summer, there's nothing more pleasant than putting your towel down on the sand in Pornic! There's the Etang beach with its pretty orange sand, which has the advantage of being supervised. Your holiday rental in Pornic may be near Plage de la Source, a beautiful sandy cove bordered by a thalassotherapy centre and two restaurants.

Seeing around Pornic

The butterfly island at Noirmoutier arouses the curiosity of many holidaymakers. They wander among superb butterflies from the four corners of the world and marvel at so many colours! An hour's drive from Pornic, visit the salt marshes of Guérande. Their whole history is told in a museum with a salty flavour! Among the other iconic landscapes of the Loire region, Pointe Saint-Gildas is often highlighted. You'll love the walk along the customs officers' path, where you'll discover an imposing panorama overlooking the Bay of Bourgneuf. The Château des Ducs de Bretagne and its history museum are also a big draw for travellers all year round.