What makes Bonne Anse Bay so special?
Probably a lot of things. Firstly the unique location. its a natural bay overlooking the Atlantic ocean set in a maritime pine forest . Set strategically between the tourist village of la Palmyre 800m on one side and the 20km of golden sands that form la Cote Sauvage 800m on the other, things don’t get much better than this!
Its a bit like Arcachon then?
Yes but much smaller and much less touristy. And the bay is actually moving all the time, being constantly shaped by the movement of the tides.
What about the forest
The 10000 acres of forest, which comprise the Forest of La Coubre provide the stunning backdrop to Bonne Anse Bay. Planted in the 19th century to stop the erosion of the sea this forest is quite unique in France and is undoubtedly the jewel of the region. It hides some buried villages from another time and blockhaus, the last remnants of the Second World War. Its now a protected forest, run by the ONF, office national des forets. Set against a relief of dunes, airy, clear and penetrated by shafts of sunlight, it is pleasant to explore the forest at any time of the year, either walking, riding by car but preferably by bike.
Why is the area so popular with cyclists?
There are a network of cycle tracks leading along the edge of the bay. You can either head out towards la cote sauvage or towards la Palmyre or inland towards Les Mathes You can explore the nearby beaches, the forest and neighbouring towns and villages. In fact you really don’t need a car once you have arrived.
Do you have to stick to the cycle tracks?
Technically yes, because if you fall off nobody will come and save you! But in practice thousands of people roam the criss cross of tracks which divide the forest up. This means, even in the height of summer you can find some peace and solitude,
Is there a lot of wildlife in the forest?
Yes a surprising amount, but you have to be canny to see them, There are wild boar, deer, roe deer, foxes, rabbits and hare, to name but a few. But you will have to spend some time observing to see any of this, unless of course you are lucky.
What kind of other sports can we do in the bay of Bonne Anse?
Bonne Anse bay is a natural reserve. Nature lovers will be able to do some bird watching as many different species live here, guided visits will allow you to discover this exceptional site. Because its sheltered from the Atlantic it’s particularly suited to sailing, windsurfing, sea kayak, the bay’s sailing club can hire all you need to practice these sports . Also very popular is kite surfing and several national kite surf events are held here through the summer.
Which kind of sports can we practice within a range of 10kms?
The real fans will have to deal with one problem: make a choice out of the huge [...]
Posts Tagged ‘France’
Holidays And Bikes In Bonne Anse Bay, Royan In France
Posted in 
Tags: 
Finding French Museums in Paris France
Europe has a great history and lots of different museums, and France is no exception where they are dotted all over the country, but there are an incredible amount of museums in Paris itself that you can visit.
Probably one of the most well known French Museums in Paris is The Louvre, which is famous for the Mona Lisa painting by Leonardo da Vinchi and this place can take at least a day or more to get round to see all the exhibits and you need a pair of walking shoes for this one! But the popular Musee d’Orsay situated in the former Paris railway station on the left bank of the River Seine picks up where The Louvre leaves off and features mainly French art.
The Palais de Tokyo is another popular museum especially with the younger generation and situated in an art-deco palace holding only temporary exhibitions, it is open until midnight and has become known as the most creative and fun museum in Paris.
But you can also get to visit a traditional home of one of the famous artists or authors, like the home of Victor Hugo who wrote The Hunchback of Notre dame, or seeing Honor Balzac’s house where he made it a place of refuge and it even had an escape hatch to get away from the debtors that he owed money to, which is now part of the Musee du Vin wine museum.
Or for a completely different scene, why not visit the Musée Cernuschi with its collection of Asian art, or the more modern Fondation Le Corbusier who became a pioneer in modern design and dedicated time to plans for providing better living conditions for people living in crowded cities.
There are lots of museums that are dedicated to famous artists and sculptors such as Musee Rodin and the Picasso Museum, but to step back in time and get a feel for how some of them lived and worked a visit to the Musee Bourdelle or the Gustave Moureau museum is well worth the time.
However, just in the city of Paris there are lots of museums dedicated to specific topics, such as the Musée des Egouts or Paris Sewers Museum, where you go beneath the city to discover their history and how they work, or you have the catacombs, which are again underground.
But keeping above ground, there are other museums in Paris dedicated to specific themes like the Musée de la Musique, dedicated to music and musical instruments that even has a Stradivarius violin and the Musee de la Poste, dedicated to the French Postal Service. Or perhaps you have an interest in dolls, as the Musée de la Poupée is all about dolls and their history, plus they even do valuations and repairs to antique dolls and teddy bears. The Musee du Vin is dedicated to the French past-time of wine and wine making and here you can even have wine tasting sessions and enjoy a meal in their restaurant.
Paris has such a wide [...]
What To Do While Visiting Boulogne, France
If you have not been given the opportunity to go to unique countries then now is the time for it. Traveling is an adventure that people should do more frequently because it offers them a look into other places and civilizations. It also gives you a chance to discover just how they live their lives.
Most people see Tokyo and Paris or other more exotic points – but why not try something new and different? Boulogne, France is an unusual place that has several attractions that are both historic and artsy. There is incessantly something to see and do whether you are there for a romantic getaway or with the whole family.
As you travel around the streets of Boulogne you will be surrounded by the numerous smells of the restaurants that are around you. It will be difficult to resist trying the fabulous food that they provide so why not have breakfast at one of them? When you are finished you may want to see one of the most notable historical places that it holds – the Basilique Notre-Dame.
This is one of the smaller sized cathedrals when compared to the more brilliant and tremendous one that resides in Canada. But it is still very stunning and a wonder to behold. It was developed between 1827 and 1875 where the individuals found a crypt that had been underneath it for centuries without anyone’s knowledge.
Numerous think that this crypt was built around the time of 1544 during the battle of Boulogne that was carried out by Henry VIII of England. It is the longest crypt that you will be able to observe in France and has pleasant Romanesque columns that are considered to date back to the 11th century. Inside it likewise carries a chapel where the South American liberator – Jose de San Martin – was buried.
Another great place to visit is the Château Musée – which possesses numerous funerary items from Egypt and Greek pots. Also Boulogne, France has the all new aquarium Nausicaa and the Colonne de la Grande Armee. This is the spot where Napoleon resolved to invade Austria instead of Britain.
Discover Grenoble With A Car Hire In France
Grenoble is the capital of the French Alps and is surrounded by beautiful mountains. You might be familiar with Grenoble as the Tour de France passes through regularly. It is a very popular attraction for skiers as there are several large and small ski resorts surrounding the city so it is bustling during peak ski season. However, there are many other attractions in and around Grenoble, so if you are planning a ski holiday, why not consider hiring a car and exploring what this city will offer you.
La Bastille: These fortifications sit on top of a mountain over looking the city. They are visible from all over Grenoble and are one of the most visited attractions in the city. At the top of Bastille Hill there are two restaurants where you can enjoy dining and admire the view of the city below you. Be sure to also visit the Mandrin Caves which were secret underground passes leading from the entrance of the fort to the second restaurant on the hill. It’s a great walk and will give you an idea of how the fortification worked.
Museum of Grenoble: The museum was founded in 1798 by Louis-Joseph Jay. The museum is now considered one of the finest in Europe with wonderful Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiques on display it is a great day out for all. When you visit, it’s like you will be taking a tour through history with paintings!
Palace of Parliament: Constructed between 1478 and 1539 it was the parliament of Dauphine until the French Revolution. Today the building is part of the Idere Council and there is an on going project of renovation to make it modern but trying to preserve its character from the 15th century.
Archaeological Museum of Saint Laurent: This museum has collections from the many archaeological excavations that were done on the site of Place Saint Laurent throughout the 3rd century A.D. The museum is actually a Benedictine church which was built in the 12th century, which was actually one of the first monuments classified in France.
As you can see skiing is not the only great thing to do when you stay in Grenoble, so why not consider picking up a hire car at Grenoble Airport and see what other wonderful things this great city has to offer!