Axo'Plage - The Perfect French Beach Holiday

Last year we visited the Aisne area of France, we found the gite we stayed in on Gites de France, a french website that means you find traditional properties at a very reasonable price.

Although you book through the French website, they do speak English and then you are put in contact with the French owner. The website offers a wealth of information on the properties and what is included, as well as if the owner speaks French if you are worried about the language barrier.

Anyway, onto Axo'Plage, this is an inland beach next to a lake, but it's not just a beach it is a huge country park with plenty to do, places to relax, have BBQs and picnics.

The beach has lifeguards, changing rooms and toilets as well as places to have food but we usually took a picnic, you can hire umbrellas and there is plenty of space.

There is a roped off area of water which splits off the swimming area with the rest of the lake, it is also possible to hire pedalos so you can take a trip further afield.

Best of all it is clean, no dogs are allowed (so no poo) and the overall location is idyllic, we had mostly warm days if not at least the afternoon.

This is the view of the beach from a viewing platform high above the nature reserve...

Lot's of space and grassland to kick a ball, setup a picnic or simply relax if you have and enough of the sand.

Being further inland the gite is a bit cheaper than being at the coast, but with Axo'Plage you get the same beach experience. If you have younger children or those not experienced in the water it is not tidal and you are safe in the knowledge there are lifeguards.

There is a fee to get in but for the quality of the beach and surrounding areas it's worth it. If you intend to spend the whole week there you can buy multiple tickets too.

We loved it here, there is plenty of space to park and even when it got really busy (on a French bank holiday) we didn't feel like we were cramped in. There is a campsite next door and a few gites locally.

We had a wonderful time here at our gite and visiting the local attractions and especially Axo'Plage.