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The Most Beautiful Islands Just Off the Coast of France

Île de Ré is a peaceful haven, despite its connection to mainland France by bridge
Île de Ré is a peaceful haven, despite its connection to mainland France by bridge | © Arterra Picture Library / Alamy Stock Photo

With 4,668km (2,900mi) of coastline, France has plenty of secluded beaches, craggy coves and windswept clifftops to explore. With so much to see on the mainland, it’s easy to miss its collection of beautiful islands, scattered from Brittany in the north down to the French Rivera. Read on for Culture Trip’s guide to the best islands off the coast of France.

The best way to explore France’s islands is by boat. Charter a vessel for the day through SamBoat, or book a multi-day sailing holiday with Dream Yacht Charter to venture further afield – no experience necessary.

Île de Ré

Natural Feature

Small boats are moored along the port wall of Saint-Martin-de Re, while pedestrians stroll the cafe-lined street just above.
© Hilke Maunder / Alamy Stock Photo

Just off the western coast is the picturesque island of Île de Ré, connected to La Rochelle by a bridge. The port town of Saint-Martin-de-Ré is particularly charming. Cafes line the harbour – sit with a café au lait and watch the world go past. At sunset the houses are bathed in golden light. The island is a natural paradise with a clutch of unspoilt beaches to visit – hire a bike and cycle your way around. The beauty of this island is that, because it is connected to mainland France, you can come and go as you please, and even make La Rochelle your base.

Île de Porquerolles

Natural Feature

An aerial view of the busy marina on Île de Porquerolles, full of sailing boats and surrounded by terracotta-roofed buildings and lush forest.
© Borges Samuel / Alamy Stock Photo

Head to the south coast of France, in the direction of Italy rather than Spain, and you’ll discover a little slice of paradise. Île de Porquerolles lies only 10 minutes by boat from mainland France (travel from Toulon or Tour Fondue), but feels like the Caribbean. Plage Notre-Dame, in particular, boasts turquoise waters and pine-tree-flanked sand dunes. The best way to explore is by bike, and there are numerous campsites and other accommodation options available. Make sure to book well in advance as it gets very busy in high season.

Île d'Yeu

Natural Feature

View of Port Joinville on Ile dYeu, with moored boat, and rows of fish restaurants and cafes along the seafront promenade.
© LEROY Francis / hemis.fr / Alamy Stock Photo

Île d’Yeu is a small island off the coast of France near Nantes. The island has a rich fishing heritage, being the first tuna fishing port on the Atlantic coast – a role it maintains today. Port Joinville is where you’ll be dropped off; many visitors choose to make this pretty port their base during their stay. Highlights on this quaint island include a visit to the fortress of Vieux-Château, views from the Grand Phare (Great Lighthouse) and, of course, eating seafood whenever and wherever you can.

Île de Bréhat

Natural Feature

Attractive cottages sit on a forested hillside on the Ile de Brehat, overlooking a small rocky creek with several small sailing boats moored in it.
© Rene Mattes / Alamy Stock Photo

Situated off Brittany’s Côtes-d’Armor, Île de Bréhat is a Breton delight. This car-free island is technically an archipelago of two main islands and many smaller ones. It boasts its own microclimate, so you’ll see unlikely Mediterranean vegetation sitting alongside the usual northern European plants. To explore the island, hire or bring a bike, or simply go by foot. There are a few campsites and accommodation options, but mostly this pretty island tends to be a destination for day-trippers.

Belle-Île-en-Mer

Natural Feature

Small boats moored in the pretty harbour of Sauzon, on Belle-Île-en-Mer, which is surrounded by pastel-coloured houses.
© John Peter Photography / Alamy Stock Photo

This island in Brittany, whose name aptly translates to “beautiful island”, is a must-visit. Not only did its coastline inspire Claude Monet, but it’s small enough to explore over a weekend. Stroll past the quaint cafes and boutique shops in Le Palais, the capital, where the boat from mainland France docks. Its daily market is well worth a visit – make sure you try a slice of Brittany cake. Venture to the opposite side of the island to see Les Aiguilles de Port-Coton, a series of impressive sea stacks once painted by Monet, before heading north to the delightful village port of Sauzon.

Port Cros

Natural Feature

A ferry boat leaving the harbour at Port-Cros National Park and sailing past a section of rocky coastline with a fort on the top.
© Chris Hellier / Alamy Stock Photo

Port Cros is something really special. It’s the smallest, wildest island of the group of islands called the Îles d’Hyères (of which Île de Porquerolles is also one). While there are facilities when you first dock in the port area, the rest of the island is free from development. This means unrivalled hiking trails and gorgeous views. Travelling by boat? Grab your snorkel and dive into the crystalline waters – as a dedicated marine park, there are plenty of fish to see here.

Île-d'Aix

Natural Feature

Two cyclists – one with a kids trailer attached to their bike – ride past an attractive green-shuttered house on Île-dAix.
© HAUSER Patrice / hemis.fr / Alamy Stock Photo

Île-d’Aix is a tiny island south of La Rochelle in the Charente-Maritime, with incredible 360-degree views of the 19th-century sea fort of Fort Boyard, just to the southwest. It’s known as the “little Corsica of the Atlantic”, which captures this peaceful, slow-paced island perfectly. You’ll not spot a vehicle here, just locals and visitors enjoying the unspoilt views, pathways and watering holes. For such a tiny island, it houses many museums – the must-sees are the Napoleon Museum and Fort Liédot.

Ready to explore these French islands in the Mediterranean and Atlantic? Hire a boat with SamBoat or book a week-long sailing adventure with Dream Yacht Charter.

About the author

Holly is a freelance writer based in Béziers, South of France. From London to a life in the Languedoc, she has written for French Property News and Living France among other titles and covers travel, lifestyle and culture. She can be followed at: www.lostinthelanguedoc.com

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