La Baule-Escoublac (also known as La Baule) is a French commune situated on the Western coast of France where it reaps the benefits of the Atlantic Oceanâs heat-retentive properties, making La Bauleâs climate mild in general and less susceptible to seasonal temperature extremes. Aside from encouraging warm summers and cold winters, the Atlantic Ocean also replenishes the nearby salt marsh of Guerande where vast, field-like pans yield 12,000tons of salt every year.
La Baule has a small population of about 16,000 and is economically oriented towards tourism, boasting five-star hotels and an 8km bay which has been described as âthe most beautiful in Europeâ (although it is unclear whether this claim is the result of a survey of European bays or a travel agent in need of a commission!).
The original settlement, Escoublac, was buried beneath the sand by a powerful storm in 1779, so La Baule-Escoablac was rebuilt a kilometre further inland. At the time, some said that the inhabitants of Escoublac had brought the disaster upon themselves by pulling up the dune-stabilising plants to use as sweeps or by allowing their sheep to eat them. When the sands continued to encroach further inland following the relocation, a few local businessmen used plant life to successfully secure a humongous 700 hectares of once-roving dunes. Over the years, a pine forest has flourished over some parts of the dunes as a by-product of their endeavours.
La Baule enjoys a similar climate to Paris (which lies 450km to the West, roughly four hours away by car) although it is, on average, slightly warmer and experiences more rainy weather during the winter months.
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With temperatures averaging around 18°C, La Bauleâs summer months are the ideal time to take advantage of the white beaches and safe swimming. Yachting is also very popular there if that sort of thing floats your boat. This season, from June to August, marks the busiest time of year in the area as most tourists choose to visit at that time, not to mention the onset of the salt harvesting season which runs from June to September.
Winter
Winter may be the best time to visit if you like peace and quiet since La Baule receives far fewer visitors during that period. However, with an average temperature of 6°C, the biting Atlantic winds blowing in and greater chances of rain from December to February, it is highly recommended that you take a coat (or, at the very least, a hairnet and a box of matches) to keep the weather off and the cold at bay.
Spring/Autumn
The rising temperatures in spring (a typical example of this might move up from 8°C in March to 13°C in May) are slightly less clement than those of early autumn (which sees an average temperature of 16°C in September before dropping down to 9°C in November). This would suggest that May and September are perhaps the most temperate times to holiday in La Baule outside of the main tourist season. Nevertheless, given the capricious nature of nature, it may be best to seek a weather forecast a week in advance of an intended visit to avoid any surprises (it certainly would have been helpful in 1779!).