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The Pays de Saint Gilles Croix de Vie is the perfect destination for surfers of all ages, all levels of ability and in any season. Are you a surfer and you’re looking for somewhere to get into the waves? Or maybe you’d like to try out surfing for the first time, in complete safety, while on holiday? Look no further, surf’s up!
From the north to the south of the Pays de Saint Gilles Croix de Vie, there are some great surf spots with fantastic waves, especially between October and May when there are often heavy swells.
The surf spots of the Pays de Saint-Gilles: the best in the Vendée
IN Brétignolles-sur-Mer
- Two surf spots: one is suitable for experienced surfers and the other is more adapted to beginners.
La Sauzaie
The La Sauzaie surf spot has built up a great reputation thanks to the reef break which is quite rare in France. The seabed is rocky here and it is only suitable for experienced surfers, so please be careful.
Surfing is possible at hide tide and half-tide.
Les Dunes 1 and 2
The vast stretches of sand at the Les Dunes 1 and 2 surf spots (limited designated area in the summer) are more accessible for beginners. Here, it’s always possible to surf. You can surf at these spots in any tide, depending on the sand banks, and they are adapted to all levels of ability (beginner to expert). Surf school and equipment to hire on the beach.
In Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie
The Grande Plage in Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie is a surf spot that is accessible to everyone, for both surfing and bodyboarding. You can go surfing here with the surf schools (or outside of the swimming times in the summer). On the south side of the Grande Plage, there is also a designated surfing area in the summer on the Plage de la Passerelle. The waves here are of average size, and when the conditions are just right, there are sometimes hollow and barrel waves. Surf school and equipment to hire on the beach.
In Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez
The beaches of Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez may be less well-known compared to the surf spots in Brétignolles-sur-Mer or Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, but they are still great places to surf nonetheless. Surfing enthusiasts choose certain locations depending on the conditions. Strong southerly winds are not ideal for surfing locally, but it is still possible to go surfing on the waves at thePlage des Mouettes in these conditions as it is more sheltered than Saint-Gilles in less-than-perfect weather.
As for the Les Demoiselles surf spot and the long sandy beach, this is a superb location for beginners. You shouldn’t expect huge barrel waves here but the beach is safe for beginners.
