Le Nauzan-Plage

The beach in Vaux-sur-Mer is mighty inviting for lounging; if you prefer a more active time there’s also a watersports centre offering sailing lessons along with kayaking, paddleboarding, jetskis and land yachting. Golf and horse riding are both 10 minutes’ drive away, and there are lovely walks and bike rides along the coast or up in the Coubre Forest, 16 kilometres away. If that all sounds a bit energetic, boat trips run from Royan and La Tremblade taking in lots of coastal sights along the way (including Napoleon’s Fort Boyard, later used as a military prison). Tigers, meerkats, giraffes and polar bears are among the inhabitants at Palmyre Zoo, 20 minutes’ drive up the coast; time your visit to coincide with a sealion show, then wander around the three-hectare ape space, spying the animals as they roam around their islands, rocks and waterfalls.