Vaux Sur Mer: All destinations, advice & information for your holidays!
The coastal town of Vaux-sur-Mer in western France is located on the northeastern shore of the Gironde, not far from Royan. In the south, limestone cliffs and beaches, the so-called Conches, alternate, forming the border to the hinterland with dense forests. Vaux-sur-Mer lies on the Chemin des Douaniers, the old coastal path of the customs officers.
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Vaux Sur Mer - Must-see attractions
Beach of Nauzan
Nauzan Beach is nestled in a sheltered bay. Even small children play carefree on the gently sloping shore. In summer, you can regularly hear live music on the bustling promenade. You can also enjoy a wonderful atmosphere at the local Beach Club. A bike path runs directly past Nauzan Beach. Sanitary facilities and changing rooms are available. Around the centrally located beach, there are numerous restaurants and ice cream shops. A night market offers you the opportunity for evening shopping in the summer.
Beach of Pontaillac
Near the Belle Époque seaside resort of Royan, you will find Plage de Pontaillac. From the small bay, you can admire the surrounding sea villas. In the summer, relax in the striped beach tents or venture into the Atlantic for a swim. Near the family-friendly Plage de Pontaillac, you will also find many culinary delights. Restaurants with French seafood cuisine offer unforgettable taste experiences, and ice cream parlors bring smiles to children's faces. In addition to surfing, bodyboarding and windsurfing are also part of the leisure program here.
Saint-Étienne Church
Originally, the Church of Saint-Étienne was the monastic church of a powerful Benedictine abbey. It was largely destroyed during the Huguenot Wars in the 16th century. What remained was the choir built in the Romanesque style and parts of a crossing tower with a square base. The upper floor of the otherwise simply designed choir is adorned with blind arcades. In the choir, you can discover four Romanesque capitals. One of them depicts the stoning of the church's patron, Saint Stephen. The church is surrounded by a medieval cemetery.
Raymond Vignes Park
In Park Raymond Vignes, a walking path of about 1.7 km leads you around the lake and through the arboretum. This educational trail explains the trees growing here, which provide a home for birds and other animals. Various recreational activities await in the park. You can train your fitness on a course with different stations or fish in the lake. For young visitors, there is a playground. At the lake, a water sports center offers activities such as sailing and rowing.
Rathauspark "Nauzan Park"
In good weather, many people are drawn to Parc Nauzan to picnic or play sports. Families can look forward to a large playground. Additionally, walks around the ponds in the park are worthwhile. At the park entrance, the "square tower" catches the eye, which was built in 1863 by Frédéric Garnier. Not far from it is a baroque manor house. At the large lake, carp, black bass, and roach are fished throughout the year.
Museum of Royan
The Royan Museum is located in the heart of a historic district and has several attractions for all those who are curious to learn more about the city of Royan and its region. Take a tour and discover the history of the city from ancient times to the 18th century. The museum also offers temporary exhibitions and regular activities such as guided tours and workshops for the younger generation. It was built in 1957 and has been renovated and modernized in recent years.
Vaux Sur Mer - Secret spots
Church Saint-Étienne in Vaux-sur-Mer
At the edge of the Nauzan Park in Vaux-sur-Mer stands the Romanesque church of Saint-Étienne, dating back to the 12th century. It once served as the monastic church for a Benedictine abbey and is dedicated to the protomartyr Stephen. The original structure still includes the apse and the crossing tower. Inside, you will find column capitals with rich ornamentation and a frieze of figurative corbels.
Find peace in Parc Nauzan
The heart of Vaux-sur-Mer beats in Parc Nauzan. The city forest stretches around several idyllic lakes, shaded by the expansive canopies of venerable giant trees. In addition to an orchard, there are also areas dedicated solely to bird nesting and insect nectar foraging. Benches invite you to rest.
Splendor of blossoms in the Jardins du Monde in Royan
Not far from Vaux-sur-Mer, Royan awaits you with the enchanting green space of Jardins du Monde. The themed flower park has had a rose garden for several years. Not only children enjoy a visit to the mini-animals at the Happy Farm. In the aroma garden, everything revolves around the sensual world of scents.
Historic Landmark: Phare de Terre-Nègre
About 4.5 km from Vaux-sur-Mer, the Phare de Terre-Nègre has risen 26 meters into the sky since the end of the 18th century. The lighthouse, named after the headland of the same name, marks a dangerous sandbank. At its base is the former lighthouse keeper's residence. Even today, the light, which has been electrically operated since 1939, warns approaching ships.
Vaux Sur Mer - In 3 days
Day 1
Vaux-sur-Mer is a tranquil southwestern French commune with 3,990 inhabitants in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region directly on the Atlantic in the Cognac wine-growing area. On the first day, you will want to experience the power and beauty of the rugged Atlantic coast. Stroll from the center along Avenue Pasteur to Plage de Pontaillac, where you can pass the time in boutiques or the casino or indulge in numerous restaurants. From here, continue on Boulevard de la Falaise. The traffic-calmed road reliably leads you along the breathtaking coast, where cliffs and beaches alternate. After about a 60-minute walk and passing two small bays, you reach Plage de Nauzan. Directly on the beach, nestled in the bay, is the restaurant La Maison Blanche, where the house specialties include mussels, sea bream, or salmon. On the Nauzan promenade, concerts and night markets are regularly held in the evening.
Day 2
Would you like to explore the surroundings on the second day? In Royan, just a ten-minute drive away, there are various options. First, the Coolongalook Adventure Park invites you to climb trees and walls - of course, safety equipment is provided on site. Free-roaming goats can be petted and fed, and you can also play laser tag. In the Planet Exotica zoo, you can experience various reptile species such as chameleons, turtles, monitor lizards, and crocodiles up close in a magical setting. A visit to the Port de Royan in the center of Royan is also worthwhile, where up to 1,000 boats can be admired. Restaurants offer fish fresh from the adjacent fishing port. If you want to buy souvenirs, you can do so next door in the covered shopping arcade Les voûtes du Port. Just around the corner, the Musée de Royan awaits culture-loving vacationers, and the MiniGolf de Pontaillac makes children's hearts beat faster.
Day 3
On the third day, you might want to leisurely end your vacation in the center of Vaux-sur-Mer. Visit the Église Saint-Étienne, built in the Romanesque style, the city's landmark, and the Protestant temple in the historic city center. If you arrive in the morning, you have the opportunity to purchase fresh vegetables, seafood, and other regional specialties at the marketplace daily. In the immediate vicinity, the idyllic Nauzan park invites you to go hiking. If you have a bit more time and want to engage in sports, a game of golf is recommended. The Golf de Royan course, set in the midst of an idyllic forest, is an option. You can reach it after just a ten-minute drive. In the same direction, but 30 minutes by car from Vaux-sur-Mer, you can enjoy an unforgettable highlight by riding horses or ponies in the forest and on the beach at L'Étrier Ronçois La Tremblade.