Côte de Beauté

The Côte de Beauté ( " coast of beauty" or " beautiful coast " ) is only about 30 km long section on the French Atlantic coast and in the mouth area of ​​the Gironde.

Geography

Location

The Côte de Beauté begins approximately at the level of the Pointe de la coubre and extends along the southwest coast of the peninsula of Arvert about the seaside resorts of La Palmyre, Saint -Palais- sur -Mer, Vaux- sur -Mer, Royan, Saint -Georges -de- Royan until after Meschers -sur- Gironde. According to the definition of the Conseil national de l'information géographique the Atlantic coast at the northern tip of the Medoc to Soulac -sur -Mer is part of the Côte de Beauté.

Landscape

The varied landscape profile ranges from flat sandy beaches in the north- west over shallow rocky sections up to the 30 meter high cliffs in the southeast. The hinterland of north-western part of the coast with its long beaches is partly wooded - Sea Pines in the 19th century were mainly planted. The southeastern section is, however, dominated by medium-sized bays.

Climate

The climate is highly influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, specifically the of Biscay - it is mainly in autumn and winter comparatively rainy, rare even stormily. In summer, daytime temperatures rarely exceed over 30-35 ° C; winter frosts on the coast are unknown.

Geology

The subsoil is calcareous sandstone (eg Meschers and Talmont ) open occurs in the southern part of the coast to light; this was previously partially mined to derive churches and the residences of the landowners ( seigneurs ), then to build the town houses of the region later. Above this is a thin and quite sandy humus layer.

Name

The coastline was once one the Côte d' Argent - a name which is common only for the approximately 100 -kilometer-long strip of Le Verdon -sur -Mer or Soulac -sur -Mer to the mouth of the river Adour in Bayonne today. The term ' Côte de Beauté ' has been selected in 1931 by the Committee of Miss European elections. The Frenchwoman Jeanne Juilla won - after their victory in the competition for 'Miss Garonne ' in 1930 - the following year, the elections to the 'Miss France ' and then - as the first French woman - the title of 'Miss Europe'.

Attractions

Apart from varied impressions of nature, there is the greater metropolitan area of ​​Royan with the urban landscapes of Le Palais -sur -Mer, Vaux- sur- Mer, Royan. The world famous zoo of La Palmyre and the Romanesque church of Sainte -Radegonde at Talmont are worth mentioning.