Le Verdon France is a charming French seaside town located in the Gironde department. It is situated in the northern part of the Medoc peninsula, surrounded by stunning landscapes, including beautiful beaches, forests, vineyards, and salt marshes.
Le Verdon is an ideal destination for those seeking a peaceful and relaxing vacation. Visitors can enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities, such as hiking, cycling, surfing, and fishing. The town also boasts a rich history and culture, with numerous landmarks, museums, and festivals to explore.
The beaches at Verdon-sur-Mer are long, clean and sandy, and because the town is at the northermost point of the Medoc peninsula you can either access an Atlantic beach (the plage Saint-Nicolas) or a beach that faces the Gironde estuary (the Plage de la Chambrette).
As it doesn’t directly face the Atlantic Ocean the Plage de la Chambrette avoids the large waves that are found on the beaches along the west coast and is more suitable for children. Both beaches have been awarded the Blue Flag award for cleanliness and facilities, and both beaches are supervised during the summer months.
The town is pleasant to stroll around. First walk around the pleasure port of Le Verdon-sur-Mer, then take a look at the 19th century Church of Notre-Dame du Bon Secours et de Saint-Louis. This church was built on the site of an earlier chapel after the council decided that a church with a tall spire was required as a warning to ships offshore. You can also see the town hall in the town centre, set in a large area of gardens.
A popular destination nearby is the lighthouse at Pointe du Grave, a listed monument at the northern extremity of the Medoc peninsula where the estuary meets the Atlantic Ocean. After enjoying the views you can visit the lighthouse museum in the Phare de Grave where you can see models of all the lighthouses around this part of the coast.
Another lighthouse that can be seen, and visited at low tide, is the 16th century Phare de Cordouan on a tiny island a few kilometres off the coast. The height of the lighthouse was increased in the 18th century. This lighthouse is often used as a symbol for the town and is the oldest operational lighthouse in France. Built and maintained to a very high standard, the lighthouse contains stained glass windows and luxury accommodation!
From close to Le Verdon-sur-Mer you can take a boat crossing directly to Royan and on to La Rochelle and Ile de Ré – very useful because the alternative journey by road passes around Bordeaux and is more than 200 kilometres long.
