St Georges & Gironde.

Secret creeks, marinas and sunny swimming pools.

St Georges claims the last of the magnificent beaches of the Beautiful Coast (see our area: 'Royan and the Beautiful Coast'). Moving southwards from it the fashionable holiday resorts with their super sands give way to villages not much noticed by the house-buying trade until a few years ago. For boat lovers Meschers and Mortagne both have small locked marinas. Other villages have creeks leading in through the mud flats that have been created by the silt carried downstream by the river Gironde and the tidal build up in its estuary. It's a major contrast from the golden sand manufactured on the more exposed shores by the timeless beatings of Atlantic waves.

Manicured lawns and refrigerated drinks:

But times change and lying on public beaches may be loosing its appeal when you could be sunning yourself on cushioned loungers or manicured lawns by a private swimming pools (with refrigerated drinks compartments not too far away). Sense would seem to dictate that by going south to small towns like Cozes and Gémozac you'd get a microscopic improvement of climate per degree of latitude. La Rochelle, though, might wish to counter such basic science with its claim to a particularly favourable micro-climate (see our la Rochelle Areas).

Commercial opportunities.

However if price is a consideration we should note that the Gironde coast is neither that fashionable city or elegant Royan. The only serious tourist attraction is the little solid church and the almost toy-town village of Talmont-sur-Gironde. It's all built on a small promontory sticking out from the rocky shore. The Church of Ste Radegonde was built in the 12th Century and has survived the might of countless tempests. The cottages that surround its skirts are largely devoted now to craftspeople, cafes and restaurants. In the countryside nearby anyone considering a commercial venture will find a dearth of small hotels and even camping sites as you progress down the estuary. Remember Bordeaux, with a population close to 3/4m in its agglomeration, is but a stone's throw away.