Côte d'Argent

The Côte d'Argent is an Atlantic seaside resort in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France, stretching over a long coastline with sandy beaches and dunes. The beach runs almost without interruption along the Atlantic coast and is backed by pine forests inland.

The coast was developed toward the end of the 19th century, when railway lines connected major cities with beach resorts. New hotels and villas emerged along the coast in the following decades to host visitors.

Fishers from the area bring their catch directly to harbor towns, where it is sold at open markets and served fresh in coastal restaurants. This closeness to the sea also shows in the daily life of small coastal villages, where boats rest at moorings and nets hang to dry.

Along the coast there are many access points to the beaches, some leading through the dunes via wooden walkways. During summer months lifeguards are on duty at several spots, and parking areas are usually located close to the water.

At some spots, submerged forests emerge from the sand at low tide, remains of old pine forests that the sea flooded centuries ago. These petrified tree stumps then rise among the waves and form an odd sight along the waterline.