The Jade Coast and the Retz Region

At the confluence of Brittany, the Loire, and the ocean

Facing Bourgneuf Bay and the Loire Estuary, the Pays de Retz serves as the southern gateway to Brittany. Around the cove of Pornic and the wide beaches of Saint-Brevin, 52 km of coastline are dotted with coves, beaches, and small seaside resorts. Linked to this lively coast, marshes and wooded countryside form a bucolic mosaic.

Discover Pornic, Saint-Brevin, and the Pays de Retz

The seaside resort unfolds around the old port, where fishing boats and traditional sailboats are moored. Strolling along the quays and terraces, a path leads to the sturdy castle built in the 13th century, then the trail returns to the new port of La Noëveillard. The stroll becomes a culinary delight with an ice cream at La Fraiseraie, a delicious local institution! On the other side of the harbor, the path winds along the cliff edge toward charming coves, the thalassotherapy institute, and Fontaine-aux-Bretons Beach. In the town center, stairways and narrow streets wind their way between fishermen’s houses.

Beaches, Shellfish, and Activities

Along the coast, near La Bernerie-en-Retz or Saint-Michel-Chef-Chef, family-friendly beaches nestle in rocky coves. With confidence, fishing huts perch on their stilts. Near Préfailles, secluded coves lie just before the Pointe Saint-Gildas lighthouse and its shore fishing areas. Fans of board sports and water activities set up shop near the wider stretches of sand in Tharon or Saint-Brevin-les-Pins.

Bring your camera and I’ll take you to all the must-see spots in the Pays de Retz: Pornic Castle, the Martinière Canal, the beaches and fishing villages of the Atlantic coast, the remnants of the Wars of the Vendée and the Atlantic Wall, Lake Grandlieu, and the artworks of the Voyage à Nantes and the Estuary.

By bike, between land and sea

Always in the great outdoors, cycling and walking routes alternate between the blue of the ocean and the green of the bocage. Extending the Loire à Vélo route, which reaches the sea at Saint-Brevin, the Vélodyssée and Vélocéan intertwine to pass through picturesque hamlets, pine forests, alongside megaliths, and along rocky cliffs… Enchanting landscapes unfold along the way!

I’ll take you to places where you can sample the local specialties that have made our region famous for its gourmet cuisine: the cellars of the Nantes vineyards with their Muscadet, the oysters and mussels, as well as the salt marshes of Bourgneuf Bay, the ice cream from La Fraiseraie, the galettes from Saint-Michel Chef-Chef, and the brewery on the Jade Coast… You’ll meet the locals—the people who produce all these delicious things with love, passion, and patience—and that’s how you’ll gain a deeper understanding of their culture while practicing your French in real-life situations!

We’ll recharge our batteries in the great outdoors by hiking or biking, enjoying water sports like canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, rowing, and coastal hiking, or simply sipping coffee and watching the birds amidst lush nature.

Legends and Exoticism Along the Loire

The unusual is also part of these itineraries! In Saint-Brevin, the Serpent d’Océan, a monumental sculpture, emerges from the estuary. This artistic creation echoes the Jardin Étoilé in the village of Paimbœuf. These two works bring Asian imagery to life along the Loire. Inland, the adventure takes you to Africa at the Planète Sauvage wildlife park, or into the legendary world of Legendia Parc.