Pornic, romantic seaside landscape

Itinéraire

Departure/Arrival

Point of interest

TOWNS OF DEPARTURE AND ARRIVAL :
- Place of departure Place du Château - Pornic
- Place of arrival Place du Château - Pornic
DURATION AND DISTANCE OF THE ITINERARY :
- Total distance of the itinerary (in km) 3
TYPE OF ITINERARY :
- Heritage walking discovery
- Urban circuit
DIFFICULTY OF THE ITINERARY :
- Easy
LEVEL OF PRACTICE :
- Suitable for beginners
- Blue level - Easy

Presentation

We'll take you on a brief journey back to the heyday of Pornic, along the "Romantic seaside landscape" trail.

Until the 18th century, the sea

was not a sought-after element, and men, when they weren't sailors, turned their backs on it. It was feared, sometimes unleashed, never mastered and few people knew how to tame it. Before being associated with pleasure and leisure, the sea is a matter of health. Doctors first recommended drinking the ferruginous spring water, reputed to cure various ailments, and then taking sea baths

The first spring water drinkers arrived in Pornic in the 1820s. Doctor Auguste Guilmin contributed to the creation of the seaside resort by publishing a guide for bathers in 1840. The arrival of the train

in 1875 firmly established Pornic as a renowned seaside resort.

As you stroll between the château and Sainte-Marie-sur-Mer, you'll admire the Belle Époque architecture that characterises Pornic town centre, with its refined hotels, elegant villas and lush gardens. Stroll along the lively quays, enjoy panoramic views over the Baie de Bourgneuf and discover the must-see places that have made this romantic seaside resort famous.

Our favourites :

The seaside villas, also known as the "Ladies of the Coast". You can recognise them by their verandas, bow windows, asymmetrical facades, gazebos and mantling. One of Pornic's most emblematic villas is the Villa Calypso, with its skylight giving it an uninterrupted view of the sea
Plage du Château, also known as Plage de la Sablière: the first beach to be developed for sea bathing between 1820 and 1830 (it is now closed to bathing).
La Noëveillard lighthouse: built in 1845, this "beacon" is an iconic part of Pornic's maritime heritage. At the time, it was the very beginning of the urbanisation of the coast

On this tour, you'll go back in time to a period when the sea was not yet seen as a holiday destination. You'll see how attitudes have changed over the centuries, and how Pornic has become a favourite destination for spa visitors and wealthy families in search of fresh air and the benefits of the sea.