Author: Coralie Tilot

Le Touquet-Paris-Plage: The Chic French Coastal Resort That Captivates Every Season

Just over two hours from Brussels, Le Touquet-Paris-Plage has quietly become one of northern Europe’s most desirable seaside destinations. Combining an immense sandy beach, elegant Anglo-Norman villas, world-class golf, luxury spas, fine dining and a vibrant town centre, it offers a refined alternative to the crowded resorts of the Côte d’Azur.

Located just 240 km from London, 256 km from Paris and 264 km from Brussels, this stylish resort has long attracted royalty, artists, business leaders and discerning travellers looking for fresh sea air without sacrificing sophistication.

Whether you’re planning a romantic weekend, a golfing break, a wellness retreat or a family holiday, Le Touquet effortlessly combines French elegance with relaxed coastal living.

Why Le Touquet Is One of France’s Best Weekend Destinations

Unlike many seaside towns built around mass tourism, Le Touquet was designed with beauty and balance in mind.

Visitors come for:

• One of France’s longest beaches
• Over 800 hectares of protected pine forest
• Championship golf courses
• Luxury spa hotels
• Outstanding seafood restaurants
• Independent boutiques
• Cycling and walking trails
• A lively covered market
• Belle Époque architecture

The result is a destination that feels luxurious without ever becoming pretentious.

For many Belgians, it has become the perfect second-home location, offering an exceptional quality of life just a short drive away.

The Fascinating History of Le Touquet-Paris-Plage

Le Touquet’s story begins in 1837, when Parisian notary Alphonse Daloz purchased what was then little more than wild dunes and marshland belonging to nearby Cucq.

Rather than seeing an inhospitable landscape, Daloz imagined creating an extraordinary hunting estate.

His greatest achievement came in 1855, when he began planting thousands of maritime pine trees to stabilise the shifting dunes. Those forests remain one of Le Touquet’s defining characteristics today.

The transformation accelerated after Hippolyte de Villemessant, founder of Le Figaro, suggested developing the coastline into an elegant seaside resort.

In 1882, Paris-Plage officially opened, attracting wealthy Parisians seeking fresh sea air away from the capital.

The resort grew rapidly.

After Sir John Whitley purchased the estate in 1902, Le Touquet developed into one of Europe’s most fashionable destinations, centred around four great leisure pursuits:

• Golf
• Tennis
• Horse racing
• The casino

When Le Touquet became an independent municipality in 1912, its reputation as the “French Riviera of the North” was firmly established.

The Legendary Westminster Hotel

One building perfectly captures Le Touquet’s timeless glamour: The Westminster Hotel.

For over a century it has welcomed aristocrats, celebrities, politicians and writers.

Legend even suggests that Ian Fleming stayed here while developing ideas that later inspired Casino Royale.

Today the hotel remains one of northern France’s finest luxury addresses.

Even if you’re staying elsewhere, step inside for an expertly crafted Negroni in its elegant bar before exploring the beautifully renovated Shiseido Spa.

It’s easy to understand why this hotel continues to define the spirit of Le Touquet.

Golf Paradise on the Opal Coast

Golf lovers are spoilt for choice.

Le Touquet Golf Resort

Three exceptional courses cater to every level:

La Mer

One of France’s finest links courses, offering spectacular sea views and challenging coastal winds.

La Forêt

 

Designed among magnificent pine forests, this historic course offers a completely different playing experience.

Le Manoir

A shorter technical course often used for competitions and training.

Nearby, Nampont Saint-Martin Golf Club also deserves special mention. Its Les Cygnes course, winding alongside a château, is one of the hidden golfing gems of northern France.

Shopping the Le Touquet Way

Shopping here isn’t about international luxury brands.

It’s about discovering carefully selected independent boutiques, local craftsmanship and authentic French style.

Highlights include:

The Market

Held every:

• Monday
• Thursday
• Saturday

The Thursday market is particularly enjoyable thanks to its more relaxed atmosphere.

Expect:

• regional produce
• artisan cheeses
• handmade baskets
• linen
• flowers
• seafood
• local delicacies

Le Petit Caddie

One of Le Touquet’s most iconic family businesses.

Its beautifully made French cotton pyjamas, embroidered with the famous golf caddie logo, have become a beloved local tradition.

Wellness by the Sea

Le Touquet has long been associated with wellbeing.

The combination of sea air, forest walks and marine treatments creates the perfect environment for relaxation.

Among the highlights:

• 

• Shiseido Spa at The Westminster
• Beach yoga
• Coastal cycling
• Forest walking trails

Whether enjoying a massage, a seawater therapy session or simply breathing in the fresh Atlantic air, wellbeing comes naturally here.

A Food Lover’s Destination

Le Touquet offers an impressive culinary scene.

Fresh seafood naturally dominates many menus, but visitors will also discover refined French gastronomy and welcoming bistros.

Recommended restaurants include:

Le Spoon

Perfect before or after a round of golf.

Tribu

Excellent value with beautiful surroundings among the pine trees.

Maison Mer

Ideal for lunch after a spa treatment while overlooking the beach.

Chez Perard

Renowned for:

• oysters
• seafood platters
• scallops
• classic regional cuisine

Extend Your Trip to Montreuil-sur-Mer

Only a short drive inland lies one of northern France’s most beautiful medieval towns.

Montreuil-sur-Mer is famous for:

• its impressive citadel
• cobbled streets
• excellent gastronomy
• cultural festivals
• links to Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables

Food lovers should not miss:

• La Grenouillère, Alexandre Gauthier’s Michelin-starred restaurant
• L’Anecdote
• Le Patio
• Caseus Fromagerie, one of the region’s finest cheese shops

The town perfectly complements a Le Touquet escape.

Where to Stay

Accommodation ranges from boutique hotels to luxury villas hidden among the pine forests.

For longer stays, renting one of Le Touquet’s elegant villas offers the perfect combination of privacy, nature and easy access to beaches, golf and nearby villages.

Essential Addresses

Shopping

• Le Petit Caddie
• No Shoes (boutique, restaurant and bicycle rental)
• Jean Trogneux (famous macarons)

Restaurants

• Le Spoon
• Tribu
• Maison Mer
• Chez Perard
• Diable au Corps

Nearby

• La Grenouillère
• L’Anecdote
• Le Patio
• Caseus Fromagerie

Why Le Touquet Continues to Charm

Le Touquet is more than simply a beach resort.

It is a destination where history, architecture, gastronomy, nature and wellbeing combine to create one of France’s most elegant coastal escapes.

Whether you’re playing golf beside century-old pine trees, cycling through the forest, enjoying oysters overlooking the sea or wandering the charming streets of Montreuil-sur-Mer, every visit reinforces why so many people return year after year.

For travellers seeking sophistication without excess, Le Touquet remains one of northern Europe’s finest hidden gems.

More travel destinations here

The post Le Touquet-Paris-Plage: The Elegant French Seaside Escape Belgians Can’t Get Enough Of appeared first on Together Magazine.

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