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Soulac Sur Mer Alternative Aquitaine's resort report
Similar to... For guidance, we think Soulac is similar to Cornish seaside resorts such as Bude and Perranporth, and the Vendee resorts in France. They are small and charming rather than big, luxurious seaside resorts, have a laid-back ambience and are dominated by long sandy beaches with good surfing.
Five
Reasons to Choose Soulac
1
Popular,
relaxed family resort
2
Great for
young children - warm, shallow seawater pools left on the beach
as the tide goes out, gentle cycling through pine forests
3
A
good range of excursions available from the resort, including
wine tasting around the Medoc, and boat trips across the Gironde
4
Sailing
and other watersports on the Gironde river at Verdon
5
Great
waves and instruction for novice surfers of all disciplines
from age 6 upwards: Malibu boards, bodyboards, even skimboards
Soulac
- highlights
100km
North-West of Bordeux, Soulac-sur-Mer is right at the tip
of the area known as Gironde, close to the Pointe de Grave
- where the mighty Gironde river exits into the Atlantic
(the Gironde is Europe's largest river estuary).
An
informal and pretty seaside town popular with families,
Soulac offers an easy beach-based holiday with excellent
local excursions. The town has a good range of shops including
all the staples of French life. The
long sandy beach enjoys surf which is ideal for beginners,
and the sea retreats to leave warm, shallow swimming pools
which are a joy for young children to splash about in.
You won't see many British visitors in Soulac. The truth is that it's something of a French
secret. There's always a few Dutch and German campers too but
British number plates are a rare sight! This adds to its appeal in our opinion!
Soulac
is sheltered by pine-covered sand dunes, and is rich in
history. Pill-boxes pepper the coastline, and add a dramatic
and exciting element to the breathtaking scenery. The town
also boasts a Basilique dating back to the 12th Century,
which accounts for its status as a UNESCO World Heritage
Site.
There's a good sprinkling of turn-of-the-century bourgeois
chalets, in Art Deco or neo-colonial style, similar to those
found in Arcachon.
Soulac
- Our Personal Favourites
•
Watching
the kids playing in the warm shallow
tidal pools
•
A
lazy afternoon strolling round the pretty town on market day
•
A family cycle through the forest to the lighthouse
and ferry port of le Verdon
•
Taking
a sailing lesson on the mellow Gironde, away from the
waves of the Atlantic beach
•
Enjoying
a glass of a Medoc vin rouge as the sun sets over
the sea
Soulac - Out of Season
French resorts tend to be very seasonal and this can often come as a surprise to visitors who are less familiar with France. Owners of seasonal business such as bars and restaurants can often get by simply by operating in two months of the year - July & August - and are happy to shut down the rest of the year.
Soulac is certainly one of the more seasonal resorts, buzzing in July & August and quiet during other times of the year. There will be a limited number of shops, bars and restaurants open outside the summer, but there is an all-year round population which ensures a few staple shops remain open. Plus there are great walks to enjoy along the wild coastline.
Find out more in our Soulac tourist information guide.
Topics covered include beaches, activities such as surfing,
kids' attractions, restaurants, cultural attractions and more...
Soulac -
visitor comments “An
absolute paradise for my young children! While they weren't
playing in the pools on the beach, they were enjoying the
dodgems in town, cycling through the forests, or fighting
invisible armies from the fortifications in the dunes..”
(Mr Hall)
