Best Beach on the Cote D’Azur…
Posted by aiwood on 19 May 2008 at 11:46 am | Tagged as: News
In Ultra Travel, Summer 2008, published last weekend, Anthony Peregrine wrote another piece….’Still Chic after all these years’and his ‘Insider’s Guide to The Cote D’Azur’…BEST BEACH? he writes… ”Even in high season, Notre Dame beach on the car-free island of Porquerolles is pretty much deserted – largely because it is a 50 minute walk from the nearest village. It has brochure-blue sea, a long curve of white sand, a fringe of pine trees – and absolutely no commerce. In fact, I’d rather not say more. I’d like to keep it to myself”….
I know he is right, as we have been there ourselves – but there are many beaches on Porquerolles reached either by a shorter walk or a rented bike which have the same white sand and views back over to the mainland over beautiful turquoise waters.
They also have a couple of really special Rose wines produced from the island’s vineyards which you can sip in the terraces or grounds of the hotel ‘Mas de Langouste’ also on the island. Porquerolles is reached by a ferry across from the Ports at either La Londe or Giens at nearby Hyeres. This is the island you see from our terraces.
This article reminded me of the stunning week we had at Villa Mathilda and the wonderful day we spent on Porquerolles. We’d organised a surprise lunch at the Mas de Langouste and took a water taxi from the port at La Londe straight over to the private hotel beach. We had the most divine lunch and then returned ‘refreshed’ in the waiting water taxi.
Personally, I love the atmosphere on the island of Porquerolles, but would find it too much to spend a whole week there. But everything is just so ‘do-able’ from the villa (and much cheaper than staying at Le Mas), it just takes a little thought and planning. Our friend said it was the best Birthday treat she’d had.
We are looking forward to planning our next trip when we can again sit on the terrace looking out to the islands with a delicious glass of chilled local Rose!