Quiet corners of Pornichet: walks between pine trees and ocean shores
There is a side of Pornichet best discovered slowly, one step at a time. Far from the lively promenade, a trail follows a rocky headland, a woodland opens unexpectedly in the heart of town, and a dune quietly preserves the memory of an ancient coastline. Here, you are more likely to encounter squirrels than crowds, sculptures instead of shopfronts. Those peaceful corners are the hidden lungs of the Atlantic seaside town — places to enjoy at your own pace, in every season.
Pointe du Bé and Pointe de Congrigoux, headlands overlooking the Atlantic
Pointe du Bé unfolds through peaceful avenues lined with period villas, wind-shaped pine trees and a light that somehow always feels a little softer, a little warmer. Chapelle Sainte-Anne quietly watches over the neighbourhood. Further ahead, Château des Tourelles stands proudly facing the open sea.
Then the coastal path takes over. You follow the shoreline, the rocks and the steady rhythm of the waves rolling in. The horizon widens. Further along appears Pointe de Congrigoux, more discreet, almost hidden away. Here, the trees create a natural canopy overhead, and the shifting light filtering through the branches changes with every hour of the day. You stop, you look. The view stretches across the bay, interrupted only by the cry of seagulls.
These two headlands reveal a side of Pornichet you almost want to keep to yourself. A place for quiet mornings and golden evenings, when the crowds remain on the beach and the path feels entirely yours. For those wanting to keep walking, marked hiking routes connect these viewpoints to wooded landscapes and the hedgerow countryside typical of the peninsula.
From Bois des Evens to the Grey Dune: Pornichet’s preserved natural spaces
Right in the town centre, just steps from the Town Hall, Bois des Evens comes as a surprise. Covering 4,500 square metres, this forme vegetable garden belonging to Villa Ker Bon Accueil has gradually transformed over the decades into a woodland of evergreen oaks. The town acquired it in 2022 to create a cool, peaceful green refuge open to everyone. Open to the public since spring 2023, visitors wander through shaded paths surrounded by sculptures carved from dead wood by the Solid’Art collective — marine and mythological figures bringing an unexpected sense of imagination to the forest. Squirrels dart between branches, owls have made it their home. Foot traffic is carefully limited so local wildlife and plant life can continue to thrive.
A little further away, Bois Joli extends this green interlude beneath century-old trees. It is one of our favourite picnic spots in Pornichet — the perfect place for a peaceful lunch. All you hear are birdsongs. And if the mood strikes, you can easily stretch the afternoon with a friendly game of pétanque.
Along the coastline, the Grey Dune of Bonne Source is one of the last remaining fragments of an ancient dune system. Across four hectares, dune carnations, sea lilies and bee orchids live together in a fragile ecosystem. Since 2020, a restoration programme has protected this remarkable habitat through limited foot traffic, removal of invasive species and educational trails allowing visitors to understand the site without damaging it.
Lande de Cavaro, five hectares of maritime pines, cypress trees and evergreen oaks classified as a protected natural area, completes this landscape. The sandy ground crunches softly beneath your feet, constantly reminding you of the dune landscapes that once shaped this part of Pornichet.
Nature tours and walks through preserved landscapes
What if you took the time to go a little further?
Dunes, rocky shores, wetlands… these protected natural spaces can also be discovered differently through our guided nature tours. Alongside passionate local guides, explore these fragile ecosystems, learn how they function and be surprised by the incredible natural richness that shapes Pornichet.