THE TOP TEN ❘ FRANCE'S BEST BEACHES
from Cannes, is a charming resort with sandy main beaches and cute coves
to explore nearby. •
www.theoule-sur-mer.org;
provence-alpes-cotedazur.com/en
From top: Étretat, with its sweeping beach and famous cliffs; Théoule-sur- Mer presents a side to the Riviera you may not have seen before; Girolata bay is another gem to be found in Corsica
sporty visitors can enjoy jet-skiing, sailing, windsurfi ng and more. Film buffs will recognise the expansive beach and chalets from Betty Blue. The seawater scored 10/10 in a 2022 Le Figaro beach
cleanliness report – time to take a dip! •
www.gruissan-mediterranee.com/en
8. FOR CHANNEL HOPPERS ÉTRETAT, SEINE-MARITIME (NORMANDY) Étretat’s picture-postcard, 90m chalk cliff shoreline boasts surely the most photographed and painted rock formation on the whole of the French coast. The likes of Boudin, Courbet, Monet and Turner twirled their paintbrushes here, while gentleman thief Arsène Lupin’s adventures featured in the 1909 novel The Hollow Needle (spot three natural arches and the pointed formation called L’Aiguille or The Needle). Meanwhile the recent Netfl ix smash hit Lupin (episode fi ve) was fi lmed on location here. The GR 21 hiking route passes through the town high above, while any descent to stroll on the pebble beach below is rewarded with the easiest of dreamy selfi es –
though carefully check tide times fi rst. •
www.lehavre-etretat-tourisme.com/en;
www.seine-maritime-tourisme.com/en
68 ❘ FRANCE TODAY Jun/Jul 2023
9. HIDDEN RIVIERA THÉOULE-SUR-MER, ALPES-MARITIMES (PROVENCE-ALPES-CÔTE D’AZUR) The Riviera has countless wondrous beaches a stone’s throw from glitzy bars and restaurants, from the world-famous (Nice’s emblematic Promenade des Anglais, which traces the main beach along the Baie des Anges, or La Plage de la Gravette in Antibes) to lesser known, hidden gems such as Cap-d’Ail (just wow!), or Plage Paloma at Saint-Jean- Cap-Ferrat. Yes, the Côte d’Azur region’s beaches warrant a 50-page feature all of their own. However, here’s a single pick: for a more discreet taste of the wild and wondrous Riviera, head to the red rock creeks of the Estérel Massif around Saint-Raphaël. Théoule-sur-Mer, 13km
10. SCUBA DO LA RÉSERVE NATURELLE DE SCANDOLA, CORSE-DU-SUD (CORSICA)
Calling all snorkellers! The Med is blessed with great shallows and underwater formations to explore – notables include the Parc national de Port-Cros and Porquerolles, Cap d’Agde, and Réserve naturelle nationale de Cerbère-Banyuls. But Corsica is the place to make snorkelling and scuba the focus of your whole trip. La Réserve naturelle de Scandola, on the northwest coast between Calvi and Porto, is one of the island’s natural jewels, with magmatic peaks overhanging the clear blue waters, where marine biodiversity is passionately protected. Some 243 species of fi sh have been listed, while dolphins might come and say hello. No road access to the village of Girolata, so take a boat from Porto, Calvi or Cargèse or walk (1hr 20 mins each way)
from Col de la Croix. •
en.balagne-corsica.com;
www.visit-corsica.com/en FT
“THÉOULE-SUR-MER IS A CHARMING RESORT WITH SANDY MAIN BEACHES AND CUTE COVES”
IMAGES © SHUTTERSTOCK, OFFICE DE TOURISME THÉOULE-SUR-MER/FACEBOOK,
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