Montalivet

Visit Montalivet, Aquitaine

Montalivet (full name Vendays-Montalivet) and the associated resort of Montalivet-les-Bains is on the Atlantic coast of south-west France, on the northern part of the Medoc peninsula and to the south of Soulac-sur-Mer.

Exploring Montalivet

It is of course for the beach that most visitors come to Montalivet-les-Bains - the beach is very long (12 kilometres in total), sandy, and largely backed by sand dunes, which in turn are backed by the extensive pine forests of the Medoc-Landes region.

The beach has also been awarded the Blue flag award for cleanliness and like the other beaches along this stretch of coast Montalivet-les-Bains is popular with surfers benefitting from the Atlantic waves.

The coast resort part of the town was created in the middle of the 19th century, and is a small, friendly place based entirely around visitors to the coast, and has a good number of cafes, bars, small supermarkets and accommodation options for visitors.

Market: during the summer a very extensive market is held here every day which adds to the holiday atmosphere at Montalivet.

Naturism: it would be impossible to talk of Montalivet without talking of naturism, since it was here in 1950 that the first naturist centre in the world was opened. There is still a popular naturist holiday village in the forest near the resort - see Euronat for details.

Vendays: a few kilometres inland to the east is the small town of Vendays, a more 'traditional' town based around a church, which also has basic facilities if little of great interest to see.

Cycling: Montalivet is also joined to Vendays by a cycle path, one of several in the region including one that runs the entire west coast (100km+) of the Medoc peninsula.

Discovering the region

Among the places we suggest you visit nearby are the town of Soulac-sur-Mer towards the north of the Medoc peninsula. The popular resort of Lacanau Ocean is always busy and about 40 kilometres to the south.

A little further afield, wine enthusiasts will want to visit the renowned wine chateaux near Margaux and Pauillac to the south-east of the Medoc peninsula.

See Aquitaine and Gironde (the region and department for Montalivet) for more travel ideas...

Suggested places to visit near Montalivet, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Le Verdon-sur-Mer 21km; Vertheuil 21km; Talmont 23km; Meschers-sur-Gironde 24km; Royan 29km; Pauillac 30km; Carcans 31km; Mornac-sur-Seudre 39km; Blaye 40km; La Palmyre 41km; Lacanau 42km;

Montalivet tourist information: sights and attractions nearby

Parcs et jardins du château de Beaulon - remarkable garden (29km) : Parc du château Lanessan - remarkable garden (37km) :

See more places and a map at places near Montalivet