Plage de Saint-Clair (Le Lavandou)

Plage de Saint-Clair is a sheltered sandy beach about 1.5 km east of the centre of Le Lavandou, a resort on the Var coast between Hyères and Saint-Tropez. It faces east toward the Îles d'Or, holds the Blue Flag, and suits families, swimmers and paddleboarders who want a calmer beach than the one in town.

Pinewoods, the mistral and why it is called La Perle

Le Lavandou has about a dozen beaches below the Massif des Maures, and Saint-Clair lies in its own district on the Boulevard de la Baleine. Pinewoods on the slopes behind shelter the fine sand from the mistral. The tourist office nicknames it "La Perle" for its sunrises and full-moon moonrises over Porquerolles, Port-Cros and Le Levant. On days of east wind, especially out of season, windsurfers come for the waves.

Snorkelling at the Whale Rocks and paddleboard hire

Swimming and paddleboarding are the main activities. The rocks at the end of the beach, known as the Whale Rocks, are the spot for snorkelling, and beginners can take snorkelling lessons. Deckchairs, beach mattresses, paddleboards, pedal boats and small boats are for hire, and beach volleyball games are held on summer afternoons. From the port of Le Lavandou, boats run in season to Port-Cros and Porquerolles, so Saint-Clair makes a good base for island days.

Facilities, lifeguards and dogs

Access is free every day of the year. Lifeguards watch the water from mid-May to mid-September, and the beach has toilets, a restaurant and parking spaces for visitors with reduced mobility. The lifeguards lend a beach wheelchair in season to visitors who come with a helper. Dogs on a lead are allowed only from 1 November to 31 March. In July and August, mornings are quieter and parking is easier.