Plage du Veillon, Public beach in Talmont-Saint-Hilaire, France

Plage du Veillon is a public sandy beach on France's western coast where the Payré estuary flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The shoreline spans roughly one kilometer and features both shallow areas and a natural transition between river and ocean waters.

The area holds traces of dinosaurs from prehistoric times, as footprints of ancient reptiles were discovered near the beach in 1963. This finding shows that the Vendée coast was once home to large reptiles millions of years ago.

The nearby oyster farm La Guittière keeps alive traditional methods of sea farming while selling fresh catch directly to visitors. This working relationship between local producers and travelers shapes how people experience the coastal area.

The beach has parking areas, restroom facilities, and lifeguard coverage during summer months from June through September. Visitors should know that conditions vary outside these months and fewer services are available.

The beach lies about 400 km southwest of Paris, on the northern side of the Bay of Biscay coast. Dinosaur footprints of ancient reptiles were found near the beach in 1963, evidence that large reptiles lived on this Vendée coast millions of years ago.