Monsieur Hulot’s beach is located in Saint-Marc-sur-Mer, a small seaside resort near Saint-Nazaire in the Loire-Atlantique region. It became famous thanks to Jacques Tati’s film Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot . A beach of old-fashioned charm, with its seaside hotel and pretty seaside villas.
In Saint-Nazaire, Mr Hulot’s beach attracts crowds of onlookers
Attention film buffs and beach lovers visiting the Loire-Atlantique coast! Immerse yourself in the world of Jacques Tati at Saint-Marc-sur-Mer, a seaside resort attached to the commune of Saint-Nazaire. Monsieur Hulot’s beach is located here.
Made famous by Jacques Tati’s film Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot, this beach with its retro charm is appreciated by holidaymakers for its family atmosphere.
With its Blue Flag label, the beach is perfect for families. Swimming is supervised in summer and accessible to people with reduced mobility (Handiplage label). There’s also a beach club for children. Numerous free events and shows are offered in summer, as well as at weekends, all year round.
It’s also Saint-Nazaire’s liveliest beach. Paddle, surf, bodyboard and skimboard are just some of the activities on offer.
Where is Monsieur Hulot’s beach?
Monsieur Hulot’s beach is located in Saint-Marc-sur-Mer, a seaside district of Saint-Nazaire, about 7 km from the city center.
To get there, follow the D213 towards Saint-Nazaire, then continue to Saint-Marc-sur-Mer.
Free parking and nearby restaurants, including the Plage de Monsieur Hulot. The place offers a magnificent view of the ocean. The welcome is warm and the dishes delicious and original.
For a stay close to Monsieur Hulot’s beach, discover Camping Les Rochelets in Saint-Brévin-les-Pins, just a few minutes’ drive from the seafront.
A beach where cinema has left its mark on the sand
La plage owes its fame to Jacques Tati’s 1953 film. The film was a great success, even internationally.
The film tells the story of a singular man, Monsieur Hulot, who arrives in Saint-Marc-sur-Mer to enjoy the summer. Settled in a seaside hotel, he unwittingly makes a series of blunders and burlesque situations, disturbing the peace and quiet of the other guests.
Through this endearing, quirky character, Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot portrays the habits, quirks and foibles of holidaymakers with humor and lightness, in an atmosphere that’s both nostalgic and mocking, thanks to a staging that’s essentially visual, with little dialogue.
Mr Hulot’s hotel and the artist’s statue
The hotel where the film is set still exists: it’snow theHôtel de la Plage. It attracts a large number of film-loving visitors every year.
Just in front of the beach, a bronze statue of Monsieur Hulot, wearing his famous hat and facing the horizon, pays tribute to the character created by Jacques Tati. Installed in 1999, it is a reminder of the indestructible link between the film and this now-cult stretch of coastline.
What to see and do in Saint-Marc-sur-Mer
- Head up Rue du Commandant Charcot for a drink on the terrace.
- Stroll along the pier and seafront to admire the beach, rocks, cornice and Belle Époque villas along the Douaniers trail.
- Stop off at the market held every Sunday morning in Saint-Marc-sur-Mer.
Discover other nearby beaches such as Fort de L’Ève, Courance and Jaunais. - Visit the port of Saint-Nazaire, the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard and the Escal’Atlantic tourist site for all you need to know about shipbuilding.
photo : Demeester – CC BY-SA 3.0 – commons wikimedia