Beach
Plage de la Fontaine aux Bretons
Pornic · Loire-Atlantique
In 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.
- Suggested time
- 1 hour 30 to 3 hours
- Type of place
- Small natural sandy cove sheltered by rocks and cliffs
- Atmosphere
- Intimate, wild, green and authentic
- Getting there
- Chemin des Noëlles, La Fontaine aux Bretons, 44210 Pornic. Free shaded car park about 300 m away, then on foot.
Who this place suits
- With family
- 6/10
- As a couple
- 10/10
- With friends
- 8/10
- Solo
- 10/10
- With a dog
- 6/10
- Reduced mobility
- 2/10
These scores are calculated from what the page records: official rating, facilities, difficulty, duration and location. They are a guide, not a substitute for contacting the venue, especially about accessibility.
About
La Fontaine aux Bretons beach is a small cove south of Pornic, in a far more natural setting than the town’s large urban beaches. About fifty metres long, it is sheltered from the wind by the rocky coast and has several small nooks to settle in. Rocks, cliffs, trees and fishing huts make up a landscape typical of the Pays de Retz. The site lies in a natural area of ecological, wildlife and plant interest (ZNIEFF). It is reached by the customs officers’ path and the fishing huts trail, or from a shaded car park about 300 metres away. Swimming is not supervised. There are no toilets or showers. Shore fishing is possible, with limpets, periwinkles, green crabs and oysters, following the rules. Pornic monitors the water quality closely and may close the beach temporarily after heavy rain, so check the health information before swimming. Animals are allowed from October to March, on a lead.
What you will see
- About 50 m long.
- A small cove of sand and rocks.
Practical information
- Getting there
- Chemin des Noëlles, La Fontaine aux Bretons, 44210 Pornic; free shaded car park about 300 m away, then on foot
- Services
- Free car park all year about 300 m away
- Parking
- Can be very busy in July and August and on sunny weekends
- Pets
- Allowed from October to March, on a lead
- Accessibility
- About 300 m from the car park
- Lifeguarded swimming
- Not lifeguarded
- With family
- Not well suited to very young children, as there are no lifeguards
- Water quality
- Regular monitoring by the town, historically an excellent bathing profile
- Tides
- Very strong influence; at low tide, rocks and shore widely uncovered, ideal for shore fishing; at high tide, a smaller cove
- Length
- About 50 m
- Activities
- Careful swimming, shore fishing (limpets, periwinkles, green crabs, oysters), the customs officers’ path, the fishing huts trail, photography, picnics
- Safety
- No lifeguards; check the water quality after heavy rain, slippery rocks, respect the fishing huts, do not get cut off in a nook on a rising tide
- Best time
- For calm, early morning; for shore fishing, low tide after checking the health information; for photos, mid tide; for swimming, a rising tide in a calm sea
- Photography
- The customs officers’ path above the cove, the fishing huts, the rocky ends in safe areas; late afternoon light
- Ideal for
- Calm, couples, shore fishing, the coastal path, photography, picnics
- Nearby
- The Éco-Domaine La Fontaine, the customs officers’ path, the fishing huts trail, Pornic, La Joselière
Tips on the spot
- Check the tide times before you go, and download them for offline use.
- Check the marine weather, swell and wind.
- Read the signs at the entrance and respect the flags and instructions.
- Choose the lifeguarded area when there is one, and do not overestimate your swimming level.
- Watch children at all times, and set a family meeting point.
Show 7 more tipsHide
- Check the water quality in season, and do not swim if there is a ban.
- Arrive early in July and August; June and September are quieter.
- Use sun cream even when the sky is hazy, and keep a windproof layer.
- Respect the dunes and vegetation, and take all your litter home.
- If in doubt about conditions, do not swim.
- Check the water quality after heavy rain.
- Bring everything you need: there are no toilets or showers.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of beach is it?
Small natural sandy cove sheltered by rocks and cliffs.
Why come here?
A small postcard beach best chosen for calm, shore fishing, a coastal walk and its natural feel, rather than for services or lifeguarded swimming.
How much time should I allow?
1 hour 30 to 3 hours.
What is the atmosphere like?
Intimate, wild, green and authentic.
Is the beach lifeguarded?
No, swimming is not supervised.
Are animals allowed?
From October to March, on a lead.
Stay in Pornic
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Read in the journal
- City guideWhat to do in Pornic: the complete guideThe 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.
- RankingThe most beautiful beaches in Loire-AtlantiqueLa Baule, Monsieur Hulot’s beach, Le Croisic, Pornic and Saint-Brevin: the most beautiful beaches in Loire-Atlantique, from the Côte d’Amour to the Côte de Jade.
- DepartmentWhat to do in Loire-AtlantiqueNantes, La Baule, the Guérande salt marshes: the department with the most places in our guide, between the Loire and the Atlantic.
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Photograph: JYB Devot · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons