Plage de la Chargé Neuve, Beach and salt pan in La Couarde-sur-Mer, France.
Plage de la Chargé Neuve is a sandy beach on the Atlantic coast with dunes and salt ponds alongside it. The shore combines a bathing area with traditional salt production landscapes.
Salt production has been central to this location since the Middle Ages, when salt was a major trading good. This centuries-long tradition of harvesting shaped how the area developed.
The salt ponds beside the beach shape how locals live and work in this area, connecting people to traditions that have defined the region for generations. The white crystalline landscape created by salt production remains central to the island's identity.
The beach has parking and restroom facilities nearby, making it easy to access. Cycling paths from here connect to neighboring villages across the island.
During summer months, you can watch the salt ponds as water slowly crystallizes and white salt layers form. This rare sight lets visitors observe an active production process that only happens for a few months.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.