Montalivet Les Bains Guide
Montalivet and Vendays are situated on the Atlantic Coast of France between the
sand beaches of the Atlantic shoreline and the Gironde Estuary in the Medoc
region. With limited accommodation (no building over two stories) rentals
include apartments, beach houses, beautiful villas and farms. Having dependable mobile phones is a must for vacationists as the buildings and tourist spots are quite far from each other. The main summer season in this region of France lasts from the middle of June to the end of August.
Nights out at the bars and restaurants
of Montalivet and Vendays
can lead to some great times; from a sun set cocktail on one
of the sea view terraces to the full on party; the choice is yours. The restaurant's
of the village hold many suprises and culinary delights, all
you have to do is select your menu.
Montalivet has an open air market
occurring each day during the summer months. This market
with its colorful mix of over 200 stalls and stands is world
famous for its produce and atmosphere. Open from 8.30 am until
2pm each day.
Surrounding the village you will find
activities for all age groups and tastes. If its sport which
leads you; the sea and the freshwater lakes on your doorstep
will be your play ground for fishing, canoeing, kite surfing,
sailing and surfing.
If water is not your element; try out the archery, bike tours,
horse riding,
go- karts, motor-
cross, speed sailing (land-yacht) and tennis which are all on
offer for your stay. The life of the village is interlocked
with nature, with two naturalist camps on either side holding
over 10.000 people in July and August, you will never be far
away from the basics of life.
How to get to Montalivet Les Bains
By Plane: Bordeaux Airport is "International" with regular flights
from the UK and Europe. Plenty of car rental. If you fly yourself,
there is a small airport open each weekend: Aerodrome Montalivet.
By Train: Bordeaux is connected to Paris by the TGV Atlantic. The ticket
will get you as far as Lesparre in the summer. (15 miles from
Montalivet). Then take the bus which will be waiting at the
station.
By Car from the north: Leave the A10 at Saintes (J25) follow signs for Royan. Find
the Bac (ferry). Crossing of the Gironde is about 30 min.
Watch out for queues in high season. Follow the N215 to Soulac,
then the D102 E1 until you reach Montalivet.
By Car from the south: Leave the Bordeaux ring road (junction 8). Follow the RN 215
until Salaunes. passing Castelnau de Medoc, St-Laurent and
Lesparre. Then left at the D102, passing through Vendays before
Montalivet.
History of Montalivet Les Bains
The resort of Montalivet was started in 1856
by the Mayor of Vendays. His vision to construct a sea side
holiday resort in connection with nature.
By the beginning of the century the basic structure of the village
had been built, giving a seaside resort for the new and developing
lifestyle. Roads crossing the forest were put down by the middle
of the 19th centuary and a direct link from Lesparre to Bordeaux
by train made the journey easier for the growing numbers of
sun seakers.
From the 1950's with the opening of the naturist
camp, to the end of the century, where the renewed interest
in nature and the waves has given the west coast a new customer base,
the resort planners have been able to keep the founders vision:
Keep it natural.
Surf at Montalivet Les Bains
The holiday village of Montalivet is one of the most northern surf spots of this 200 km sand beach running along the Aquitaine coast line.
The best season for good quality surf and warm water is from September to November when the Atlantic throws her first winter
storms.
During this season the shifting peaks and powerful rips make Montalivet an ideal location when the surf in the villages
further south is closing out.
