St-Hilaire-de-Riez

Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez is a coastal town in the Vendée department, on France's Côte de Lumière, right next to Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie. It stretches along several kilometres of fine sandy beaches, interspersed with wilder stretches such as the Sion-sur-l'Océan area, where a small rocky outcrop breaks up the otherwise sandy shoreline typical of the region. The town is bordered by a pine forest that protects the dune system and offers shaded walking and cycling routes. The area has a high concentration of campsites, making Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez one of the busiest destinations in the Vendée during the summer months. The surrounding marshland, part of the wider Marais breton, adds to the local landscape and biodiversity. The mild oceanic climate supports a tourist season running from spring through autumn. Water sports such as surfing, sand yachting and paddleboarding are common on the more exposed beaches, while the nearby harbour town of Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie adds seafood restaurants and a fish market to the local offering. An extensive network of cycle paths links the various neighbourhoods and coastal hamlets that make up the commune.