From the Petit Maroc to Monsieur Hulot beach

Start: From the port of Saint-Nazaire, in the Petit Maroc suburb, in the far east of the city, Avenue de Saint-Hubert, behind the ecomuseum and opposite the monument "To the abolition of slavery."

(S/E) From the start, walk down Southward and turn Westward towards the Basin entrance. Facing the swing bridge, turn left onto Rue de l'Écluse then take the bridge on the right. Continue Westward and walk past the sea wall before reaching Saint-Nazaire beach.

⚠️ This route is not signposted.

(1) Continue along the beach, on the promenade. Further on, reach the front of the American Monument and carry on on the promenade.

(2) Go further past the Jardin des Plantes, on the right. Continue on the promenade which, further on, winds towards the South and discover, shortly after, the first fisheries. Shortly after the last fisheries, the promenade turns West again at the Esplanade Albert Premier.

(3) Notice the Pendulum Sculpture and continue on the promenade, along the Villès-Martin beach, to arrive in front of a building built on the beach.

(4) Join the road and turn left for a few meters, to go around the building, then turn left between the building and the Fort de Villès-Martin to join the coastal path. Take it on the right, towards the West. Further on, find a small park on the right.

(5) Continue and pass through Lion Rock (Rocher du Lion). Further on, the path turns South then heads West again to arrive at Porcé Beach.

(6) Take the road for a few meters before finding the coastal path which goes up the cliff. Further on, reach some fisheries.

(7) Continue on the path which heads South-West. Further on, the coastal path takes a passage built on the rocks, then ends at Port Charlotte Beach.

(8) Continue, from cove to cove, to the Pointe de l'Ève and its moor dotted with blockhouses.

(9) Continue, on the edge of the cliff then go down and cross the Plage de la Courance (Courance beach). Walk back up to go around the Butte du Château (Castle) to discover, behind it, the Saint-Marc beach and its famous Hôtel de la Plage.

(10) Return, the same way to the port Saint-Nazaire. (S/E)

Start: From the port of Saint-Nazaire, in the Petit Maroc suburb, in the far east of the city, Avenue de Saint-Hubert, behind the ecomuseum and opposite the monument "To the abolition of slavery."

⚠️ This route is not signposted.

Waymarkers: “Coastal Path” wooden signs and GR^®34 Red and White markings. The GR^®34 begins its tour of Brittany here which will end at Mont-Saint-Michel.

Terrain: This hike is rated Difficult only because of its length. The path is very passable.

This path, closest to the sea, and on the cliff, is sometimes subject to collapses. Diversions are then put in place. Always follow the directions on the ground, and never venture into collapsed areas.

Many small beaches are accessible from the trail by stairs. But do not venture through the rocks at low tide into the other less accessible coves, as you risk being trapped by the rising tide moreover, most of these small beaches are covered at high tide.

A return trip to the seaside is not necessarily boring. This allows you to enjoy all the views without having to turn around all the time! In addition, the changing tide means that the landscape is never the same on the way out and back.

Gears: ⚠️ Hiking poles prohibited on the Nazairian coastal path

Saint-Nazaire is a very pleasant little town, resolutely focused on its shipyards and its port. You should not leave the city without visiting the museums installed in the old submarine base, on the port:
L'Escal'Atlantic, the Naval Shipyards, the Espadon submarine, the Écomusée, and much more...

The name Petit Maroc appeared around 1930 with the presence of fishermen from Douarnenez who left for the coasts of Morocco. Until the Second World War, Nazairians continued to call this district Old Saint-Nazaire, in opposition to the new town. This site, the Rocher de Saint-Nazaire, was first occupied by a Celtic camp, then a Gallo-Roman fort. In the 14th century, the town moved from the plateau - currently the Ruban Bleu - towards the rock to respond to Breton maritime development.

Monsieur Hulot Beach, or more officially Saint-Marc Beach, is dominated by the Hôtel de la Plage, where scenes from Tati's film "Monsieur Hulot's Vacation" take place. A statue of the director was built on the esplanade overlooking the beach.