aixcentric

Unlike a trip to Les Goudes (see last post) which isn’t particularly child-friendly, some days you just want a bucket-and-spade day where little ones can scoot their scooters, pedal their trikes or ride along in prams. Suddenly the stunning Calanque d’En Vau doesn’t seem such a good idea…..

Les Lecques is on a sweeping (mainly) sandy bay with a wide esplanade, a little port and a footpath on the jetty leading out to sea.  It has cafés, ice-cream or waffle stalls, a very shady playground, shops selling flipflops, snorkels, lilos; and parallel to the esplanade is a main street with a Spar and very good boulangerie.  All set for a family day by the sea.

It is, though, very popular, and if you want one of the closest parking spots by the sea, you need to get there early.  Even the side-streets charge for parking so take change.

Pieds dans l’eau at this nice restaurant in Les Lecques

Eating out is easy – either buy a picnic at the nearby shops – or take your pick of the cafés.  Delighted to see on a trip down there this week, there is one offering smashed avocado on toast and super-salad bowls!

‘Le Grain de Sable’ pictured left has a good menu if you want something more formal, or there are two organised ‘beach clubs’ where a lounger costs 15 euros, and an umbrella 11 euros, day.  This of course includes a manicured bit of beach, loos and catering.

The sea here is quite shallow and a swimming area near the port has now been cordoned off. (Prior to this there were incidents with currents).  Life-guards are present during the school holidays.  There is a good and helpful tourist office where they do speak some English.

It’s just over half-an-hour to drive down from Aix and always our choice if we want a good long easy walk and coffee, or are setting off with grandchildren, buckets, spades and scooters.

Here is a map which shows how Les Lecques is part of Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer, which can confuse.