Pornic, cité maritime et paysage de ria

Discover the two banks of Pornic's old port and its ria on the "Pornic, maritime town and ria landscape" tour.

At the head of the Bay of Bourgneuf, the town of Pornic developed at the crossroads of the Cracaud and Haute-Perche rivers. Where these meet the sea, they have formed rias, where the sea meets the land. The port is set in a peaceful harbour bordered by rocky slopes, now urbanised (upper town and Gourmalon district). It continues through the Haute-Perche valley in a green breakthrough inland. The ria maritime gives way to a landscape of hedgerows and marshes, a fragile and precious ecosystem, home to a wealth of flora and fauna.

Our favourites:

The ria, offering a magnificent view of the château, the island of Noirmoutier and the infinite horizon
The quays, testimony to the town's important maritime past
Haute-Perche and its landscaped park with its thousand and one plants


Pornic is much more than just a harbour town. It's a place where history meets nature, where heritage blends harmoniously with the surrounding countryside. It's an ideal destination for lovers of the sea, hikers, cyclists and anyone looking for a peaceful, rejuvenating setting.

The guide can be downloaded below, or obtained in hard copy from your 7 Tourist Offices.

1 h
2 km
This route is accessible to people with reduced mobility.

Find out more about the history of the town.