France La Baule beach Travel Information

La Baule, situated on the estuary of the Loire, was founded only in 1879, and now has a population of some 15,000. It ranks along with Biarritz as one of the leading resorts on the French Atlantic coast, with a very beautiful beach several kilometers long. A seafront boulevard runs along above the beach, with numerous hotels and guesthouses, set in beautiful gardens. Around the town are salt-pans and pinewoods planted to stabilize the dunes. Adjoining it is the smaller resort of La Baule-les-Pins, to the east of which is the Parc des Dryades, an interesting botanical garden.

The resort's history began with the inauguration of the Nantes-Guérande railway line in 1879.

The result is surprising: at the heart of an 8km bay is the beach of La Bôle, bordered by a young 700-hectare forest of maritime pines.

'La Bôle' became 'La Baule' in 1896, streets were built leading off the avenue de la Gare (now avenue de Gaulle) linking the station to the sea, the buildings multiplied, a promenade was installed on the seafront, as well as a breakwater.

Before too long, La Baule became an exclusive destination for holiday-makers seeking invigoration and relaxation for the whole family.

Luxurious villas were built around it, and a casino opened in 1904. Many of the avenues in La Baule which exist today were once the footpaths in the parks of the large properties built around this time, which explains the surprising route they sometimes follow.

Walking, Cycling on the famous seafront, have a break in the shadow of the pine trees, discovering the cultural treasures of the area, artistic or funny animations, every instant of snooze is a special moment for all the couples Famous gastronomic break, La Baule offers you all t seafood delights: fish, lobsters; crabs, oysters, shellfish and also regional products from the soil!. Beautiful hotels, seafront flats, you will find in La Baule the ideal accommodation for you, lovers, so make yourself at home.

Breath ! Relax! You’re in La Baule. It’s a wonderful escape to the essential: your wellbeing.

True heart of the station, the beach, with a pretty little name "The Queen Beach", stimulates the baulois style of living at every season. Children as adults love to capture the wave with the complicity of the sand and the winds. In La Baule, you are free to do whatever you want, through the discovering of a resort rich in leisure.

                       
The First World War, which transformed the Guérande Peninsula into a vast landing, garrison and resting centre for the allies, meant that La Baule could attract international visitors. The Casino was enlarged, luxury boutiques were added, the Hermitage was built, sports facilities were introduced (tennis, horse-riding school, clay pigeon shooting, 18-hole golf course, etc). At around the same time, another district began to grow in the town, spurred on by Louis Lajarrige, called La Baule-les-Pins. An embankment, called the Boulevard de l'Océan, was finally built, becoming the symbol of the unity of La Baule.

Campsites, family guest houses and children's summer camps started to appear. Mass tourism pushed the resort to increase its accommodation capacity, especially by constructing new apartment blocks on the seafront.

Today, La Baule is a pleasure capital capable of accommodating large numbers of visitors. Business tourism completes the full range of facilities which the resort caters for.