Pays de Retz: 7 experiences only the locals know about

Between ocean and marsh, Pays de Retz reveals itself to those who take the time to discover it in a different way. Indeed, life follows the rhythm of the tides, markets and seasons.

Far from the usual itineraries, this region offers a mosaic of landscapes, traditions and well-kept secrets. Slow village invites you to experience tourism in the Pays de Retz as its inhabitants do, through seven simple and authentic experiences, where every moment becomes an encounter with local nature and culture from our open-air hotel in Pornic.

To fully appreciate this spectacle, it's best to venture out along the coastal path in the late afternoon. The colors change minute by minute, and it's easy to see why these constructions are part of the local people's emotional landscape. You don't just come to fish: you contemplate, you listen to the surf, you take your time.

• 14 kilometers from our open-air hotel

Our tip: take the customs path at the end of the day, when the golden light highlights the huts and the ocean becomes a mirror.

Explore the Breton marshes by bike or on foot

In the Pays de Retz, the Breton marshes stretch to the horizon, between quiet canals, wet meadows and étiers that zigzag towards the ocean. It's a world where water and sky merge, where you'll come across herons, egrets and sometimes even storks. To walk or cycle in this landscape is to enter a different temporality, that of nature and the seasons.

To discover this unspoilt area, several signposted paths criss-cross the marshes, accessible to walkers and cyclists alike. At dawn, the low-angled light envelops the canals in a light mist, creating an almost unreal atmosphere.

Our advice: go for morning walks, when the wildlife is waking up and the paths are still deserted. This is when the marshes reveal their most intimate beauty.

Enjoy oysters from a local producer

It's impossible to discover tourism in the Pays de Retz without sitting down to savor oysters by the ocean. Indeed, oyster farming is much more than a profession: it's a living tradition, handed down from generation to generation. Several producers welcome you in an authentic setting, far from the big tourist infrastructures.

Averty Thierry, in La Bernerie-en-Retz, runs a seafront depot where you can come and choose your oysters and shellfish. He is also present at local markets, for example in Préfailles, Tharon-Plage and Pornic on Sunday mornings!

• 15.5 kilometers from our open-air hotel

Les Perles de Jade, also in La Bernerie-en-Retz, offer guided tours for groups, explaining both the terroir and their love of the oysters they grow.

• 15 kilometers from our open-air hotel

These are close, human addresses, where talking to the producer is part of the pleasure of tasting.

Our tip: savor your oysters on the spot, facing the sea, letting the iodine inspire you to slow down. A plate, the sound of the waves, an intimate vantage point: a simple, memorable pose.

The Pornic market, held every Thursday and Sunday morning, attracts locals and visitors alike to the lively streets of the town center. The more intimate markets of Machecoul (Wednesday mornings) and Saint-Brevin-les-Pins (Saturday mornings) offer a leisurely stroll and a chance to chat with producers. In summer, small evening markets complete the experience.

Our tip: come early in the morning, when the halls and squares are slowly waking up. It's the perfect time to share a coffee at the counter and observe local life in all its simplicity.

Get lost in Pornic's colorful alleyways

One of our favorite tourist attractions in Pays de Retz is the colorful streets of Pornic! For us, Pornic is one of the most charming gateways to Pays de Retz. Locals love to come here early in the morning, when the town is still owned by the early risers, or at the end of the day, when the quays are lit up and the air smells of salt.

Don't miss a visit to La Fraiseraie, a local institution where artisanal ice creams make a sweet stroll even sweeter.

• 6 kilometers from our open-air hotel

Our advice: let your curiosity be your guide rather than a map. Pornic reveals itself best when you're willing to get a little lost.

Follow coastal paths to secret beaches

Between Pornic, Préfailles and Saint-Michel-Chef-Chef, the Pays de Retz coastline hides a succession of discreet coves and confidential beaches that only attentive walkers know how to unearth. The Douaniers trail, which runs along the coast, reveals a staircase carved out of the rock or a sandy path leading to an almost deserted cove.

Our advice: pack a pair of comfortable shoes and check the tide tables before setting off. Access to certain coves has to be earned, and is all the more enjoyable when you find yourself almost alone facing the ocean.

Share a convivial moment around a local table

In Pays de Retz, gastronomy is above all a story of simplicity and sharing. After a stroll along the seafront or in the marshes, there's nothing like a convivial meal to prolong the experience of tourism in Pays de Retz. In fact, restaurants and inns give pride of place to local produce: fish from the Pornic fish auction, oysters and shellfish, vegetables grown in the fertile surrounding countryside, goat's cheese and artisanal pastries. In Pornic, locals recommend La Poissonnerie du Môle, an authentic address where you can enjoy the catch of the day with a view of the harbor.

Our advice: choose a small address off the main thoroughfares. It's often there, in a simple, sincere setting, that you'll make the most wonderful culinary discoveries... and human ones too.

What if you took the time to experience these moments in the Pays de Retz? Our open-air hotel in Pornic is waiting for you to extend your experience to the rhythm of nature. Don't wait any longer!