France – Préfailles (En)

Located halfway between the Bay of Bourgneuf and the Loire estuary, Préfailles benefits from an exceptional openness to the ocean. The town offers 10 km of rugged, sheltered coastline dotted with coves and family-friendly beaches. Widely known since the second half of the 19th century for the healing virtues of its thermal waters and the benefits of sea bathing, Préfailles has successfully preserved its typical coastal architecture over time.

Where to stay

We stayed at the 3-star L’Albatros campsite (47.139456, -2.222718 lat, long). We paid 14.50 euros per day, all included. The campsite is great and the staff are super friendly! The pitches are large with running water and electricity. The showers have good pressure and hot water, and there’s a washing machine for 4 euros! It has a pool, a bar set up like a beach bar, and a snack bar with amazing prices. One day, we had delicious burgers for 3.50 euros each. They have activities for children and adults. One night, we ate with the campsite customers, all sitting at a table, having mussels and fries. They have their beer called L’Albatros and a cocktail: orange juice, mango, grenadine, and alcohol, which I tried and it was very good, although it could have been a little bigger! On Friday night, there was music for dancing! We stayed for six days because the place is so great. You can walk to the beach or get to the village in five minutes by bike or scooter! The best value campsite we’ve ever been to! Oh, and they have sheep and goats right in front of the pitches. One goat escaped every day and got into a car! It was hilarious!

What to see

We went to explore the town on the motorbike, a three-minute walk away. The first thing we saw was the church and the beach, where there’s a shack that serves oysters and shrimp. I went swimming at the beach one day, but Ben, as always, said the water was freezing, and he only went in up to his knees! The town has bars and restaurants, as well as a tourist office.

Another day we went to see the port and the Sémaphore museum, also overlooking the open sea. The panoramic terrace offers breathtaking views.

We ended our visit by checking out the beach near the campsite. A very pleasant 10-minute walk.

And tomorrow we’re off to Port-Louis, where the most famous landmark is its citadel, built by the Spanish in 1590, which you’ll be able to see in the next blog!