La Baule, France
La Baule Holiday Rental Homes - Cottages La Baule
La Baule-Escoublac, commonly referred to as La Baule, is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department, in the Pays de la Loire region in western France. La Baule is situated between Le Pouliguen and Pornichet on the coast. It's a magnificent stretch of coastline, reputed to be the most beautiful in Europe. When you stay in a self-catering holiday cottage or house in La Baule, you can also visit over 50 beaches in the area, quaint fishing villages, marinas and salt marshes directly to the north.
La Baule was once called Escoublac - which was destroyed by a tidal storm in 1779. The village was rebuilt on firmer soil but the dunes that backed the village were still liable to tidal flooding. The only inhabitants brave enough to live here were customs officers who nicknamed the village 'la Bole' which means fenlands susceptible to flooding. Escoublac later became 'La Baule' and it’s now stabilised by the pine trees that border the beaches.
When you rent a holiday home in La Baule you’ll be entering an exclusive and historic seaside culture. La Baule has long been home to French high society's seaside residences. La Baule also boasts a 12 kilometre-long sand beach (the longest in Europe).
It is full of historic places: castles (Nantes castle), walled cities (Guerande), 19th century seaside resorts (Quiberon) and many typical Breton fishermen villages (Pornichet). There are also historic points of interest including the 18th-century Eglise (church) Saint-Pierre d'Escoublac. A guided tour by bike (organised by the tourist information centre) of some of the luxurious villas provides an interesting insight into the wealthy upper classes that frequented La Baule at the turn of the century. Water sports enthusiasts will love La Baule - jet skiing, scuba and sailing are just some of the activities on offer.
Other tourist attractions include: the Cimetière militaire britannique (military cemetery) d'Escoublac-La Baule, the "Avenue de Gaulle", with a range of shops and restaurants.
Travelling to your La Baule holiday rental property is relatively simple. Via France’s motorways it’s reached on the A11 from Paris, N165 / E60 & N171 from Nantes, N137 / E03 & N171 from Rennes. Journey time from Paris is approx 3 ¼ hours. If you prefer the train, there are regular TGVs to and from Paris, it’s a 3 hour journey. Nantes is the nearest airport. It is well served by the UK’s regional airports – Air France, easyJet, Ryanair, Cityjet and Flybe all offer regular services.
The climate is temperate. During the summer, daytime temperatures average between 70-80° F. Annual rainfall is some of the lowest in France.