Plage de Vert Bois, Sandy beach in Dolus-d'Oléron, France
Plage de Vert Bois is a sandy beach stretching several kilometers along the southwest coast of Oléron Island. The shoreline features light golden sand backed by maritime pine forests and meets clear shallow waters ideal for wading.
A major storm in 1999 destroyed the coastal road that once ran alongside this beach, allowing the area to return to its natural state. This reshaping left a lasting mark on the landscape and how people now access and use the shoreline.
The beach is a gathering place where visitors can observe local residents collecting shellfish and oysters during low tide, a practice that defines the region's way of life. These daily routines continue practices that have shaped the community for generations.
Free parking and public facilities including showers and restrooms are located near the beach entrance. Lifeguards monitor the waters during summer months, making it a safer choice for families and less experienced swimmers.
This beach connects seamlessly with Saint-Trojan beach next door, creating an extended shoreline where natural rock formations emerge during low tide. Visitors can walk between the two and explore the exposed rocks as the water recedes.
Location: France métropolitaine
Address: Plage de Vert Bois, France
GPS coordinates: 45.88003,-1.26732
Latest update: December 6, 2025 19:06
Oléron Island, the largest island in mainland France after Corsica, features a military, maritime, and natural heritage reflecting its strategic position facing the Atlantic Ocean. This Charente island, connected to the mainland since 1966 by a nearly three-kilometer-long bridge, houses fortifications built under Louis XIV, such as the Citadel of Château d'Oléron and Fort Louvois, as well as the famous Fort Boyard positioned on its sandbank offshore. The Chassiron Lighthouse, standing at forty-six meters high, marks the northern tip of the island and guides ships through the waters of the Pertuis d'Antioche. Beyond its defensive legacy, the island offers various natural areas where sandy beaches, pine forests, and salt marshes alternate. Saint-Trojan-les-Bains extends its wooded shoreline to the south, while Boyardville features a protected coast on its eastern side. Visitors also observe oyster farming along the La Baudissière channel and explore the colorful huts that house artist workshops at the port of Château d'Oléron. The Saltworks Museum traces the history of salt extraction, a resource that shaped the local economy for centuries.
Oléron Bridge
7.4 km
Citadelle du Château d'Oléron
6.1 km
Fort Louvois
7.7 km
Petit Train de Saint-Trojan
6.5 km
Plage de Gatseau
8.4 km
Maison des aïeules de Pierre Loti
7.7 km
Lanterne des morts de Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron
7.9 km
Le Marais aux Oiseaux
5.5 km
Église Saint-Pierre de Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron
7.7 km
Réserve naturelle nationale de Moëze-Oléron
8.6 km
Maison Heureuse de Saint-Georges-d'Oléron
10.3 km
Parc Myocastors
5.3 km
Plage de la Giraudière
3.5 km
Château de Bonnemie
8.1 km
Dolmen d'Ors
5.8 km
Église Saint-André de Dolus-d'Oléron
3.5 km
Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption du Château-d'Oléron
5.6 km
Musée de l'huître
7.7 km
Église Saint-Trojan de Saint-Trojan-les-Bains
6.3 km
Pont Napoléon
4.6 km
Fontaine, place de la république
5.6 km
Église Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Nicolas de La Cotinière
7.7 km
Grande plage (naturiste)
5.3 km
Plage de La Biroire
8.9 km
Église Saint-Louis de Bourcefranc-le-Chapus
10.9 km
Les Placelles
10.5 km
Prieuré de La Perroche
3.3 km
Temple de Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron
7.8 kmVisited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
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