Campsite in Pornic in Brittany
Pornic, a pearl on the Jade coast
Located on the Jade coast on the edge of the Atlantic ocean, Pornic is a family-friendly coastal town and charming medieval city steeped in history with a château, old harbour and elegant villas clinging to the cliffs.
Visit Pornic, from the highest point of the town...
Make the most of your camping holiday in Pornic to meander around the streets of this medieval town, through the undercover market and around Place du Marchix before heading to the foot of the Château de Pornic. Built in the 15th century by Gilles de Rais, the sadly famous blue beard and former companion-in-arms of Joan of Arc, the château is now private property and is not open to the public. However, the tourist information centre organises guided tours of the château in July and August. As for the coast, your eye will be drawn to the luxurious seaside villas built at the end of the 19th century, nestled on the cliffs which are echoed by adorable little fisheries on stilts dotted along the Jade coast. If you are looking for authenticity and a picturesque backdrop, head for Pornic’s old harbour. Once the home port of « Terre-Neuvas » (fishermen) in the 16th century, it now forms the heart of Pornic, renowned for its late-night markets which take place every Tuesday and Saturday evenings in the summer.
Seaside activites
A beacon town on the Jade coast, Pornic boasts no less than 12 beaches, renowned for the quality of their bathing waters. They are all very different, from small sandy coves to large beaches facing the ocean. Your children can learn the basics of sailing at the Club Nautique de Pornic or your can try your hand at kitesurfing, windsurfing, sea kayaking or jet skiing. If you have your sea legs, climb aboard an old sailing boat and discover the bay of Bourgneuf and the Jade coast from a different angle. Once back on dry land, you can continue your tour of Pornic along the coastal path from Moutiers-en-Retz to the south to Saint-Brévin-les-Pins to the north. The scenery is simply breathtaking : wild coasts, craggy cliffs, sandy beaches and hidden coves… Another way to explore the area is by bike. The Vélocéan and Vélodyssée cycle trails are a great way to discover the coast.
Must-sees
- Faïencerie de Pornic, (pottery) birthplace of the famous personalised Breton porridge bowl !
- Thalassotherapy centre where you can indulge in a hydromassage bath with seaweed and essential oils.
- Pornic Golf Course, 6km, 18-hole course surrounded by age-old maritime pines.
- Fraiseraie de Pornic (strawberry firm) which makes succulent artisanal fruit sorbet, jams, sirups and caramels.
- Pornic war cemetary, burial ground of British soldiers who died after the sinking of the « Lancastria » troopship in 1944.
- Tumulus des Mousseaux, the oldest megalith in Pays de Retz, situated on the hill which overlooks the beach of Noëveillard.
