Bouzigues, half an hour west of Montpellier, offers a real taste of the seaside, French-style, with gorgeous oysters and sea urchins (oursins) plucked from the lagoon. At Chez La Tchèpe (+33 4 6778 3319) on the seafront, you pick your shellfish at the counter and it is cooked and delivered to your table with, say, a bottle of Picpoul de Pinet. The area around is a wildfowl paradise, with flamingo-intensive lagoons within easy walking distance. Les Sables d'Olonne
This resort south of the Loire has a 12km stretch of golden sand. The vast expanse of sea, sky and sand has inspired many an artist. It's a great place for swimming, surfing and sailing (the Vendée Globe yacht race starts and ends here). Visit the seashell museum and the museum of contemporary art and local traditions. The covered market has an array of attractively arranged fresh fish, meat, fruit and vegetables. Salt marshes a few miles out of town can be toured by boat. Bay of Agay
To enjoy the Côte d'Azur without crowds, tourist-trap beaches or bling, head to Agay, 40km east of Fréjus/St Raphaël on the D559. The town sits on the bay, with turquoise shallows and viridian pines complementing the gold-red volcanic rock of the last range of the Massif de l'Estérel. The Vallée du Paradis campsite, in a quiet location at the back of the town, bordering the river Agay, is conducive to chilling out in the evenings with a glass of rosé. Agay has a year-round temperate climate, so you can enjoy all its attributes early in the season. For the complete list, read: Readers' travel tips: the best of coastal France
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