Oléron – Saint-Trojan Grande Plage

Saint-Trojan-les-Bains · Charente-Maritime · France

Today’s forecast: the current surf forecast for Oléron – Saint-Trojan Grande Plage (wave height, swell, wind, tide and a 0–10 rating for every hour of the next 16 days) are only shown on SurfCams. They change every hour, so this text doesn’t contain them. To check today’s surf, open https://surf-cams.com/spot/oleron-gatseau.

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Saint-Trojan's Grande Plage is a long, Landes-style beach break of sandbars and many peaks, running south from the main access through the forest towards the Gatseau point and the Maumusson strait. It catches almost every swell, and a good east wind makes it worth a session even when the waves are small. Around the wreck of a First World War cargo ship, to the right of the main path, the banks tend to give the fastest and hollowest rights and lefts once the swell reaches about a metre and a half. It is a good beach for learning on small days, but it closes out from around two metres and the currents near the strait are strong.

Level
Beginners
Break
Beach break, sand
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Some company
Season
spring, summer, autumn
Boards
Foam boards and longboards on small days, a shortboard when the wreck banks are working.

When it works

✓ A west to north-west swell of one to two metres with an east to north-east wind in the last few hours of the rising tide.

When it doesn't

✕ Swells over about two metres, which close out the banks and make the paddle out very hard, or onshore westerly wind.

Watch out for

  • rips
  • currents

Best months

March, April, May, June, September, October, November

Local tips

With some size, surf near the wreck but not right next to it, and expect company there. Rip currents strengthen as the tide drops, so mid to high tide on the rise is both the best and the safest window. In summer go early in the morning, before the onshore breeze and the beach crowds. The emptier banks a 20-minute walk south towards Maumusson come with much stronger currents and a naturist beach, so only go there with others.

Getting there

From the Oléron bridge follow Saint-Trojan-les-Bains and the signs for La Grande Plage through the forest; park only in the marked car park, since rescue vehicles need the road clear, then cross the dune in a few minutes. Lifeguards cover the beach from late June to mid-September, and there are toilets and a first-aid post in July and August.

Travel notes

How often it works
This long beach catches every swell, but it closes out above about 2 metres. On those days the paddle out gets very hard.
Crowd and vibe
The beach is so long that crowds are rarely a problem outside summer. The peak by the wreck draws the most surfers.
Camping and vans
St-Tro Park in Saint-Trojan-les-Bains is about 2.5 km away. Nearest campsite about 2.5 km away.
Facilities
Lifeguards cover the beach from late June to mid-September, with toilets and a first-aid post in July and August.
Water quality
The Saint-Trojan Grande Plage monitoring point was rated good every season from 2022 to 2025, and all six 2026 samples were good.

Ideal conditions

Swell
W–WNW best, SW–NW works
Size
1–2.5 m offshore swell; starts at 0.6 m, holds to 3.2 m
Period
9 s minimum, best from 12 s
Wind
Offshore NE–SE; handles onshore up to 12 km/h
Tide
mid, high best, on the rising tide
Faces
W (259°)

Live cam

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

Nearby spots

All spots in Charente-Maritime · All spots

Sources