Visit La Baule, Pays de la Loire
La Baule is a very popular and quite upmarket seaside resort on the Atlantic coast, to the north-east of france in the Pays de la Loire region.
The town was founded at the end of the 19th century, when it gained a rail link with the goal of being a seaside resort, and is a nice place to promenade, look sophisticated and spend too much.
Explore La Baule
The main attraction of the La Baule resort is its long sandy beach. The beach is very long at almost 8 kilometres and has nice fine sand. The beach is marketed by the town as being 'the best beach in Europe' - whether you agree will depend on what you are looking for in a beach, but it is exceptional.
Of course, all the seaside activities you would hope for are here, and the beach is gently sloping, so ideal for children as well as adults.
The beach is backed by the expensive hotels and apartments that are typical of La Baule and attracts a sophisticated, wealthy crowd - almost as if it were a little piece of the Cote d'Azur transplanted to the north of France. There are numerous restaurants and all other facilities.
Be sure to spend a little time away from the beach to explore the streets behind the sea facing apartments in La-Baule. In these streets there are a great number of impressive villas, built 100 years ago when the town was first established that are very interesting to see, almost all individual in design and many now surrounded by attractive gardens.
La Baule is also a 'ville fleurie' and makes a good effort with its public parks and gardens.
Attractions nearby
For a smaller scale seaside resort we liked the beach at nearby Batz-sur-Mer. For a town with more historical interest we suggest that you visit Guerande, a medieval fortified town a few kilometres from La Baule.
Photos of La Baule (click any picture to start the gallery)
Tourist classifications for La Baule: Village in bloom (ville fleurie) 4*;
Suggested places to visit near La Baule, France
Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.
Le Pouliguen 3km
Pornichet 4km
Guerande 5km
Batz-sur-Mer 7km
More suggestions: Cote d'Amour 9km; Le Croisic 9km; La Turballe 11km; Saint-Brevin-les-Pins 18km; Jade Coast 26km; La Roche-Bernard 27km; Pornic 29km; Noirmoutier 33km; Sarzeau 39km; Saint-Gildas-de-Rhuys 41km; Ile Houat 43km; Ile-d'Arz 46km; Rochefort-en-Terre 46km; Morbihan Gulf 46km; Redon 47km; Arzon 47km;
See these places and more on a map at places near La Baule
La Baule tourism: sights and attractions nearby
Marais Salants de Guérande - site of natural beauty (13km) : Briere - regional natural parc (15km) : Loire Estuaire - site of natural beauty (20km) : Pointe Sainte-Gildas - site of natural beauty (20km) : Golfe du Morbihan - site of natural beauty (46km) : La Vraie-Croix - ville fleurie 4* (46km) : Marais de Machecoul - site of natural beauty (54km) : Notre-Dame-de-Monts - ville fleurie 4* (55km) :
French version: see La Baule (Francais)
Hotels: book now, pay at the hotel, 'best price promise':
Family fun: 
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