In July I'm staying in Lourmarin for a week, and I've been toying with the idea of getting to the coast. Best case scenario would be a beach outside of a large town that can be driven to in 2 or less hours. Is this possible, or should we stick to the interior?

Maeby, we visited Lourmarin for a week two years ago, and took a day trip to Les Calanques, just next door to Cassis. It was well worth the easy 1 hour trip. I'm not really sure if Cassis has any beaches, but there are a few beaches along the Calanques.

Other regulars on this board will add more info to this for you, I'm sure.

Beach it !

Cassis is a great little village, though not my favorite spot for a beach day - beach is too small and can get extremely crowded in July.

I'm partial to the beach at Stes.-Maries-de-la-Mer in the Camargue. It's wide and sandy and long (especially the part starting just at the west end of the village). Would be a good two hours from Lourmarin, so you should get an early start. Stes-Maries is about as close as you can get to the Jersey shore in France for atmosphere anyway. And you could also visit Aigues-Mortes while down there and make a day of it.

-Kevin

Thanks for the responses. I think a trip is definitely in order. Now, are we talking rocky or sandy beaches in the Cassis and Stes. Maries areas? Thanks!

The Stes. Maries beaches were sandy and not crowded, really, in July.

Just worth saying that you can look at beaches, etc with google earth.

This image is Ste Maries de la Mer centred on the bullring.

This is L'Espiguette.
It is the most popular beach for locals and is about 20 kms from St Maries.

That whole area 'Camargue) is wild wetlands with sandy beaches backed by dunes. There is very little road access. Ste Marie is in the background here :



and I've got more photos here.

Peter

Definitely visit the coast. That whole stretch of coastline is really beautiful to walk along anyway, even if you don't find a beach that suits you.