Les Sables d’Or les Pins seaside resort
In the 1920s, Roland Brouard, a real estate agent from Saint-Malo, seized the opportunity offered by the unspoiled coastline near Cap Fréhel.
He thus acquired 100 hectares of virgin land to develop Les Sables d’Or les Pins – Golden Sands among the Pines, a luxury seaside resort.
Brouard’s vision quickly materialised: prestigious villas and hotels soon merged from the ground, complemented by water sports facilities, tennis courts and even a golf course reminiscent of those in La Baule, Deauville, or Le Touquet.
The Camping House opened in 1924, followed by the golf course in 1925 and the casino in 1927.
To ensure accessibility, a railway line connecting Les Sables-d’Or to the Paris-Brest line was built in 1924. However, Les Sables-d’Or-Brest line ceased operations permanently in 1950.
The resort nevertheless prospered, attracting an affluent Parisian clientele and international visitors, particularly from England, thus fulfilling Brouard’s ambitions.
Unfortunately, the 1929 economic crisis led to his bankruptcy.
Brouard died in 1934, but his entrepreneurial spirit lives on thanks to a commemorative stelae bearing his motto:
“Vivre pour agir, agir pour créer, créer pour vivre – Live to act, act to create, create to live.”
Les Sables d’Or undertook a revitalisation after the Second World War, but struggled to regain its former glory. It is only in the last thirty years, with the rise of tourism, that the resort has experienced a revival.
Les Sables d’Or was completely renovated. It even regained the prestige of its golden age and reopened its doors on July 13 and 14, 2007, for the start of the summer season.
The resort indeed offers a wide range of activities, including water sports, an 18-hole golf course, an equestrian centre, tennis courts, restaurants, cafes and a casino, making it a popular destination.
However, during the winter, the seaside resort experiences a significant drop in visitors, as many facilities are closed.
Nevertheless, the deserted beach retains all its natural beauty, offering a serene escape populated only by seagulls and cormorants.
Surrounded by picturesque moors, which are adorned with vibrant colours in spring and autumn thanks to the flowering of gorse, heather, broom and wildflowers, Les Sables d’Or remains one of the best-kept secrets of the region, waiting to be discovered by those seeking a peaceful coastal retreat.
Coordinates: Lat 48.639236 – Long -2.403849
