Region guide
What to do on the Guérande peninsula
The medieval town of Guérande, the salt marshes, La Baule beach, Le Croisic and its wild coast, Batz-sur-Mer and the Brière: the guide to the Guérande peninsula.
7 min read
Between the Loire estuary and the Vilaine, the Guérande peninsula brings together a medieval town, salt marshes, a wild coast and one of the longest beaches on the Atlantic coast. To the north, the Brière marsh adds its villages of thatched cottages.
Guérande, the walled town
Its ramparts still go all the way round the old town. You enter through the Porte Saint-Michel, wander between the Collégiale Saint-Aubin and the crêperies, then walk around the walls along the tree lined mall.
The salt marshes
Between Guérande, Batz-sur-Mer and Le Croisic, the salt workers harvest salt and fleur de sel by hand in summer, in clay pans. Several producers open their salt works to visitors, and the salt marsh museum in Batz tells the story of the trade.
The towns and the marshes
VillageGuérande Old TownGuérande · 2 h 30 to half a day, a full day with the salt marshesBehind its almost entirely preserved ramparts, Guérande unfolds monumental gates, a collegiate church, granite houses, shops and lanes that open directly onto the salt marshes.
MuseumSalt Marsh Museum, Batz-sur-MerBatz-sur-Mer · 50 minutes to 1 h 15, longer with an activityIn Batz-sur-Mer, in former salt warehouses, a museum tells the story of the salt workers, their tools, their costumes and the landscapes of the Guérande peninsula. Average visit: about 50 minutes.
VillageBatz-sur-MerBatz-sur-Mer · At least half a day, ideally a full day to combine the centre, the marshes, the museum and the coastBetween the wild coast and the Guérande salt marshes, Batz-sur-Mer combines granite lanes, salt workers’ villages, the Saint-Guénolé tower, beaches and salt culture.
VillageLe CroisicLe Croisic · Half a day minimum, ideally a full day with the Côte Sauvage or the OcéariumLe Croisic combines an old harbour, shipowners’ houses, old lanes, the Océarium and a wild coast, on a peninsula where maritime heritage runs right out to the Atlantic rocks.
VillageKerhinetSaint-Lyphard · 1 hour 30 to 3 hours, a full day with a punt trip, cycling or a walkKerhinet brings together eighteen fully restored thatched cottages, a bread oven, a well, a wash house, craftspeople and interpretation trails in a car-free village in the heart of the Brière.
La Baule and its beaches
La Baule’s great beach curves from Pornichet to Le Pouliguen, over nearly nine kilometres of fine sand. The seafront and the villa district, in the pine woods, are best explored by bike.
The beaches
BeachLa Baule BeachLa Baule-Escoublac · 3 hours to a full day, longer to walk the whole bayFrom Pornichet to Le Pouliguen, the bay of La Baule stretches about 9 km of fine sand, with lifeguarded sections, beach clubs, water sports, walks, facilities for disabled visitors and water quality monitored all summer.
BeachPlage de Port-LinLe Croisic · 2 h 30 to a full dayIn Le Croisic, Port-Lin is the town’s main beach, a sandy cove lined with seaside villas, lifeguarded in season, with a kids’ club, showers, toilets and excellent water quality.
BeachPlage de la GovelleBatz-sur-Mer · 2 h 30 to a full dayIn Batz-sur-Mer, La Govelle is a fine-sand beach set among the rocks of the Côte Sauvage, known for surfing, shore fishing, the customs officers’ path and lifeguarded swimming in season.
BeachPlage de Pen BronLa Turballe · 2 h 30 to a full dayIn La Turballe, Pen Bron extends the Grande Falaise beach to the Pointe de Pen Bron, with fine sand, Conservatoire du littoral dunes, a Blue Flag, free parking and no lifeguard.
Le Croisic and the wild coast
Le Croisic has kept its fishing port and shipowners’ houses. Its Océarium shows Atlantic wildlife, penguins included. From Le Croisic to Batz-sur-Mer, the wild coast alternates rocks, coves and small beaches along the coastal path.
The wild coast
ViewpointCôte Sauvage of Le CroisicLe Croisic · 45 minutes to 1 h 30.A great classic of the Guérande peninsula, loved for its rocks, its lively sea and its many stopping points facing the Atlantic.
ViewpointCôte Sauvage of Batz-sur-MerBatz-sur-Mer · 45 minutes to 1 h 30.A very photogenic stretch of rocky coast, where people come for the waves, the rocks, the horizon and the raw sea atmosphere.- ViewpointBelvédère du Mont-EspritLe Croisic · 20 to 40 minutes.A viewpoint overlooking Le Croisic and its maritime surroundings, good for taking in the town, the port and the peninsula as a whole.
- WalkLe tour de côteLe Croisic · 3 h 15An easy 10 km loop from Le Croisic station: a Petite Cité de Caractère, the customs officers’ path, the point and a wild coast of granite cliffs.
The Brière
North of the peninsula, the Brière marsh is explored by boat, with a boatman, among the reeds and canals. The village of Kerhinet, in Saint-Lyphard, has restored its thatched cottages.
Where to stay on the Guérande peninsula
Stay in sur la presqu’île de Guérande
Places to stay that are still available, with current prices, compared across the main booking platforms.
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Going further
Our other region guides
- What to do in the Gulf of Morbihan
- What to do on the Crozon peninsula
- What to do on the Pink Granite Coast
- What to do on the Emerald Coast
- What to do on the Quiberon peninsula
- What to do in the forest of Brocéliande
- What to do in Cap Sizun and at the Pointe du Raz
- What to do in the Bay of Morlaix and Roscoff
- What to do in the Pays Bigouden
- What to do in the Pays des Abers and on the Côte des Légendes