Les Mathes

Les Mathes is a coastal town in the Charente-Maritime department, just a few kilometres from Royan, nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and an extensive maritime pine forest. The town is best known for hosting La Palmyre Zoo, one of France's most visited wildlife parks, and for its proximity to the Côte Sauvage, an unspoilt stretch of coastline lined with dunes and beaches such as Bonne Anse and La Bréguette. The Coubre lighthouse, set within the state-owned Coubre forest, is another local landmark, popular with walkers and cyclists thanks to the area's extensive network of cycle paths connecting nearby seaside resorts. The surrounding natural landscape of forest, marshland and ocean makes the area well suited to outdoor pursuits including hiking, surfing and wildlife watching. Les Mathes enjoys a mild oceanic climate typical of the Charente-Maritime coast, with summers tempered by sea breezes. Overall, the town serves as a convenient base for exploring this part of the Atlantic coastline, combining unspoilt nature with family-friendly tourist attractions.