Pornic, a charming seaside resort

Pornic is a charming seaside resort on the coast of the department. Its name is first used in 1083: it comes from Porsniti, meaning Port.

When you visit Pornic for the first time, be sure to admire the château as well as the ruelles médiévales, but also the port.

From the 16th to the 18th centuries, Pornic was notably known for its port activity. Indeed, the port of Pornic became specialised in the transport of goods over short distances, in coastal fishing and also in cod fishing. The port's renown led to the development of shipyards. In order to monitor the transport of goods and prevent smuggling, a customs trail was also built along the Pornicais coastline. It has now spread all along the Breton coastline and continues to attract hikers.

It was from the 19th century onwards that tourism began to develop in Pornic. Artists and writers such as Auguste Renoir and Gustave Flaubert frequented the town. Sublime bourgeois villas were built, particularly in the Gourmalon district. To facilitate the transport of holidaymakers, a Nantes-Pornic railway line was also built in 1875. A casino completed the tourist offer in terms of leisure facilities.