Brétignolles – Plage des Dunes

Brétignolles-sur-Mer · Vendée · France

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Plage des Dunes is a long, dune-backed beach south of Brétignolles-sur-Mer, with four or five sandbar peaks spread over about two kilometres that shift around with the tide. The waves are soft and peel cleanly, rights and lefts of up to a hundred metres or so, and the beach picks up long-period swell well, which makes it one of the easiest and most enjoyable places in the Vendée to learn and progress. A surfing zone is marked out at the northern end in summer, and two surf schools work from the dunes. It is busy with holidaymakers in high season but quiet just before and after.

Level
Beginners
Break
Beach break, sand
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Busy
Season
autumn, winter, spring, summer
Boards
A longboard or foam board on the soft days, a fish or shortboard when the banks are working.

When it works

✓ A west-south-west swell of one to two metres with an east to north-east wind, from mid tide up to high tide.

When it doesn't

✕ It cannot take onshore wind, and in summer the sea breeze usually turns it choppy from late morning.

Watch out for

  • rips
  • currents

Best months

January, February, March, April, May, June, September, October, November, December

Local tips

Surf early in summer, before the thermal onshore breeze fills in around 11 am. In season, stay within the surf zone to the right of the Dunes 1 lifeguard post; the kitesurf zone is at the southern end near Dunes 2. Out of season there is no marked zone, so give swimmers and walkers at the water's edge plenty of room. Expect a little drift along the beach.

Getting there

From Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie take the D38 south through Brétignolles and follow the 'Plage des Dunes' signs about three kilometres past the town; there are car parks at both the Dunes 1 and Dunes 2 accesses, good van parking and a campsite with shops behind the beach.

History

A marina planned for neighbouring La Normandelière, opposed for years by surfers, Surfrider Foundation Europe and environmental groups, was definitively abandoned by the local council in July 2021.

Travel notes

How often it works
Surf-forecast rates it fairly consistent outside summer. With four or five peaks along 2 km of sand, there is usually a bank working, but onshore wind ruins it.
Crowd and vibe
Weekends get crowded and summer is touristy, but wannasurf calls it a good place to progress without localism. Before and after the season you can be almost alone.
Camping and vans
Camping Amitié Nature in Brétignolles is about 1 km away, and Yelloh! Village Le Chaponnet in Brem-sur-Mer is about 2 km. A campsite with shops sits behind the beach, and there is good van parking at the accesses. Nearest campsite about 1 km away.
Facilities
There are two summer lifeguard posts (Dunes 1 and Dunes 2) with toilets and drinking water, and a marked surf zone in season.
Water quality
The Les Dunes monitoring point was rated good every season from 2022 to 2025. In 2026, two of its eight samples were only average.

Ideal conditions

Swell
WSW–WNW best, SW–NW works
Size
1–2 m offshore swell; starts at 0.6 m, holds to 2.8 m
Period
8 s minimum, best from 11 s
Wind
Offshore NNE–ESE; handles onshore up to 10 km/h
Tide
mid, high best
Faces
WSW (257°)

Live cam

No cam at this spot yet: the forecast and the guide are on the map.

Nearby spots

All spots in Vendée · All spots

Sources