City guide
What to do in Pornic: the complete guide
The old harbour and the castle, the customs officers’ path, coves and fishing huts on stilts, the beaches of the Côte de Jade: what to do in Pornic and the Pays de Retz.
6 min read
South of the Loire estuary, Pornic is the pearl of the Côte de Jade: an old harbour at the end of a ria, a castle by the water and a coastline cut into small coves.
The old harbour and the castle
The colourful houses run down to the harbour, where you can wander between terraces and fishing boats. The castle, by the water, is private property: admire it from the harbour and the promenade.
What to see in Pornic
VillagePornicPornic · Half a day minimum, a full day with the coastal path and the beachPornic curls around an old harbour overlooked by its castle, among villas, coves, the customs officers’ path, fishing huts and famous treats such as La Fraiseraie.
CastleChâteau de PornicPornic · 30 min to 1 hour for the outside and viewpointsOverlooking the old port, the Château de Pornic is the town’s iconic image: a former medieval fortress, remodelled in the 19th century and still privately owned.
LighthouseNoëveillard LighthousePornic · 30 minutes outside, about 2 hours for a guided visit.A lighthouse-house built in 1845, first lit in 1846, raised in the 19th century and now owned by the town of Pornic, with SNSM premises.- ActivityCorsaires de RetzPornic · 1 to 3 hoursThe Corsaires de Retz, a traditional wooden sailing boat in the old port of Pornic: 1 h 45 sea trips, half days and cruises of several days.
The customs officers’ path and the fishing huts
The coastal path follows cliffs and coves on either side of the harbour. Along the way you pass the pêcheries, huts on stilts from which people fish with square nets, the very image of the Côte de Jade.
Beaches and walks
BeachPlage de la NoëveillardPornic · 3 hours to a full dayNext to the marina in Pornic, La Noëveillard is a lively urban beach of fine golden sand with historic beach huts, a beach club, the Blue Flag and the Handiplage label.
BeachPlage de la Fontaine aux BretonsPornic · 1 hour 30 to 3 hoursIn Pornic, La Fontaine aux Bretons is a small sandy cove of about 50 m, sheltered from the wind, surrounded by rocks, cliffs, trees and fishing huts, on the customs officers’ path and in a protected natural area.- WalkCircuit des pêcheriesPornic · 2 h 45An 11.5 km loop in Pornic along the customs officers’ path: fishing huts, dolmens, Boutinardière beach, the Fontaine aux Bretons and a view over the estuary.
- WalkCircuit d’HuchepiePornic · 3 h 45A 14.6 km loop in the countryside behind Pornic: the Gros Caillou pond, hundred-year-old oaks, the Croix Gâte and villages of the Pays de Retz.
Around Pornic
La Bernerie-en-Retz and Préfailles, with the Pointe Saint-Gildas, are a few minutes away. Saint-Brevin and the Saint-Nazaire bridge are half an hour away, Nantes less than an hour.
On the Côte de Jade
ViewpointPointe Saint-GildasPréfailles · 1 h to 2 h 30, depending on the route and a possible visit to the semaphore.A rocky headland listed as a regional nature reserve, with views over the bay of Bourgneuf, the Loire estuary, Noirmoutier and the offshore wind farm.
LighthousePointe Saint-Gildas LightPréfailles · 1 to 2 hours with the museum and a walk on the headland.A 14.80 m light set on the former signal station of Préfailles, with a 14-mile range, six coloured sectors and a maritime museum open to visitors.
ViewpointRoche PercéePréfailles · 20 to 45 minutes, longer on a coastal walk.A viewpoint on the Préfailles corniche, near Port Giraud, with a view over the Loire estuary, the Saint-Nazaire bridge and the Côte de Jade.- MarketMarché de La Bernerie-en-RetzLa Bernerie-en-Retz · 1 to 2 hoursOn Fridays from 8 am to 12.30 pm all year round, and on Tuesdays in summer, the La Bernerie-en-Retz market is held in the covered market hall, in the town centre.
Where to stay in Pornic
Stay in Pornic
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