The buildings on the sea
front, apartments two storeys high above the shops under the
arches, form a crescent 600 metres long.
The curve follows the coast and it is easy to appreciate the
vision of the town planners and the architects of the 1950s who
planned this sea front which successfully separates two
complementary sectors of the town : the beach life and the town
life.
On
the sea front, there is a holiday atmosphere, the arcades
vibrant and alive with people going backwards and forwards all
day and during the evening.
Some evenings, it is difficult to get through the mass of people
thronging the arcades and to avoid the waiters of the
restaurants who skilfully cut their way through the good-natured
crowd.
The
specialities of the numerous restaurants are obviously fish,
oysters, mussels, shellfish, … the trays of superb seafood are a
feast for the eye as well as the mouth. The pleasure/price
ratios are fully acceptable, especially if the prices are
compared to the big Parisian brasseries! (or to London
restaurants !)
Amongst the other cafés and brasseries, you will notice ' Le
Portique ' where it's very pleasant to have a drink or an
ice-cold dessert, ensconced in the comfortable armchairs on the
immense terrace of one of the most popular places on the sea
front.
The name of this brasserie is a reminder of the Portique walk,
which was originally built between the two parts of the sea
front, perpendicular to the axis of the avenue that leads to the
market. This ‘Portique’ was demolished at the same time as the
Casino to make way for leisure areas and for magnificent
flowerbeds.
On the Town side, the aspect is of a
very built-up area but the red tiled roofs of the houses soften
this impression harmoniously.
