Minimes beach
It is located on the west coast of France in the region of New Aquitaine. It belongs to Charente-Maritime Department and is the main city beach of the famous French resort of La Rochelle.
Photos
Beach description
It is situated between La Rochelle marina and the Minims cape covered with dense pine forest. The beach is sandy, quite long and wide, visually divided into two parts by a bulk dam.
- The first one is closer to the harbor, it is mainly packed with those who prefer active water sports. Swimming is quite difficult here because of sharp stones on the bottom, therefore tourists prefer to mainly walk along the sea or admire wonderful views wile spending their time in restaurants on the promenade.
- The second area starts from the dam and extends to the very forest at the foot of Cape Horn. It is always lively here, there are many families with small children for whom all the necessary conditions are provided here. The beach is equipped with shower stalls, changing stalls and toilets, there are children's and sports grounds, convenient ramps for people with disabilities. Sunbeds and umbrellas are paid. Rescues monitor the safety of visitors, there is an emergency station near the entrance.
When is the best time to go?
It is possible to relax in France at any time of the year, the time of the trip depends more on your preferences. Summer - a great time to travel to the sea. Thanks to the Mediterranean climate, even on the southern French Riviera is not hot weather. In winter , people go to ski resorts in France. It should be be mindful that in summer and winter in France there is a high season, respectively, prices soar. To enjoy the excursions, choose the time from February to April or from September to November, when both in the north and in the south it is not very crowded. If you go to the French Riviera in September, you will never lose: You will find a time when the weather is still warm and the prices are not so high.
Video: Beach Minimes
Infrastructure
Since the beach is located almost within the city, it is easy to get there. Every fifteen minutes, the so-called "sea buses" for 1.5 euro per person run from the Old Port to it. There is also a good road to Plage des Minimes, which runs into a large free parking.
Stella Maris lane stretches along the beach, it leads to the lighthouse skirting the entire cape. There are restaurants, shops, travel agencies and bike and sports equipment rentals, and closer to the park, luxurious private residences are located.
In summer,the so-called botels are in demand in La Rochelle: they are yachts moored in the harbor or well-equipped modern boats rented out to tourists as housing. Guests are offered well-equipped comfortable stalls, kitchenettes with modern appliances, and shower stalls with items for personal care. As a rule, a party area with TV, bar and dance floor is organized on board. There is a possibility to make an exciting sea walk or go fishing for an additional fee. Prices for accommodation in botels are not much different from prices of standard hotels, but every year, there are more and more guests who want to settle on the water and feel like real "sea wolves".
Among the standard accomodation options, there is an apart hotel which is the closest to the beach Résidence New Rochelle, and it attracts tourists with its convenient location and excellent service. Guests are offerred modern studios with kitchenettes and spacious balconies. There is a swimming pool with a relaxation area and a bar, a shady garden with hammocks and lawn chairs, a sports and children's playground on the territory. Within walking distance from the hotel there are shops, restaurants and bakeries, it takes half an hour of slow walking to reach the main attractions of La Rochelle.
Weather in Minimes
Best hotels of Minimes
All hotels of MinimesUseful information
It would be an unaffordable mistake not to visit unique attractions with which the city and its surroundings are literally packed. Everything here is literally full of history, starting with the Old Town, with its narrow paved streets and thick fortified walls, and ending with the old fort, which survived many sieges at the time.
The Old port is incredibly attractive because of its laconic medieval beauty with its famous ancient towers that are the hallmark of the city. For 9 euros it is possible to visit all three towers and get up to the observation deck, which offers an amazing view of the city.
In La Rochelle, there are a lot of interesting museums, including the most popular Museum of Fine Arts, the Maritime Museum and the Museum of Natural History surrounded by a gorgeous park with live peacocks walking along the alleys. A local aquarium, that is one of the largest in Europe, deserve particular attention.
And of course, you should go for amazing sea walk on boat to the famous Fort Boyard. During the two-hour excursion, tourists will be able to see the ancient fortification from all sides, as well as enjoy the scenic islands of Ile d'Ex and Oleron, located in the nearby sea.