Saleccia beach

The French coastline stretches over more than 3,100 miles and features a notable variety of beaches. From Brittany's granite coasts to Mediterranean coves, including wide Atlantic stretches and Corsican bays with clear waters, each coastal area has its own character. This selection takes you away from crowded seaside resorts to beaches that have maintained their natural state. You will find the wild Piémanson beach in Camargue, accessible only via a dirt road and visited by pink flamingos, the discreet Nonnes beach on the Gironde estuary with its caves carved into the cliffs, or Notre-Dame beach on Porquerolles, considered one of the top spots in the Mediterranean. In Corsica, Saleccia requires an hour of walking or a boat trip to reach, while the Côte des Basques in Biarritz has attracted surfers since the 1950s. Some beaches demand effort to access, others are protected as nature reserves, but all offer a different experience from mass tourism.

Europe's most secluded beaches offer access to natural coastal environments that remain undeveloped due to their distance from major tourist centers. These locations span from the volcanic black sands of Iceland's southern shores to the pink-tinted beaches of southwestern Crete, formed from crushed seashells. Many require hiking through nature reserves or boat transfers to reach. Protected coastlines feature distinct geological characteristics: limestone cliffs eroded into natural arches along Portugal's Algarve, basalt columns rising from Norwegian fjords, and serpentine rock formations containing high magnesium content in Cornwall. The beaches exist within varied ecosystems, from Mediterranean scrubland surrounding Sicilian coves to Arctic conditions where granite mountains shelter narrow sand stretches in the Lofoten archipelago. These sites attract visitors seeking alternatives to developed resort areas. Access methods range from tidal passages through stone arches in Galicia, where water levels determine entry times, to unpaved tracks crossing the Desert of Agriates in Corsica. Several beaches change appearance based on natural forces: the Croatian peninsula of Zlatni Rat shifts its contours according to wind and wave patterns, while shallow lagoons in Greece allow wading between mainland and offshore islands. The locations provide opportunities for activities including snorkeling among underwater rock formations, observing seabird colonies nesting in coastal cliffs, and exploring cave systems revealed during low tide periods.

The Corsican coastline extends over 1,000 kilometers and features numerous sandy beaches, rocky coves and marine reserves. The waters around Porto-Vecchio in the southeast of the island display fine white sand and turquoise water. The Bonifacio region presents limestone cliffs and sheltered bays, while beaches near Calvi on the northwest coast are bordered by pine forests. The eastern shore between Bastia and Solenzara offers long sandy beaches with shallow access to the sea. The western coast reveals granite formations and small coves between Piana and Scandola. Cap Corse in the north provides pebble beaches and rocky sections. Water temperatures reach 24 to 26 degrees Celsius during summer, while the swimming season runs from June to September.

This collection connects the mountainous interior of Corsica with remote coastal sections and historical traces of early settlement. Hiking trails pass through forests and over passes to places largely untouched by mass tourism. The route includes granite formations rising from the sea and megalithic sites several thousand years old. In the mountains lie lakes of glacial origin, surrounded by pine trees and steep rock faces. Along the coast stand Genoese towers, once used for defense and now serving as landmarks. Beaches of pale sand or pebbles are often accessible only on foot or by boat. The collection leads to places such as Filitosa, where carved stelae stand among olive trees, the Calanche cliffs near Piana, whose reddish rocks are oddly shaped, and the Aiguilles de Bavella, rock spires rising above pine forests. The Scandola nature reserve extends along a jagged coastline, accessible only from the water. Monte Cinto is the island's highest peak and offers views over valleys and bays. Isolated coves such as Saleccia or Plage du Lotu lie behind hills and maquis scrubland. The collection also includes abandoned villages such as Occi, waterfalls dropping into natural pools, and trails through the Fango valley, where the river flows between granite boulders.