A bit of history…
Initially, Saint-Marc was just a hamlet centred around a farm, a water mill and a chapel (hence the name). Bit by bit, from the 1800s, Saint-Marc started to transform into a seaside resort. Saint-Nazaire was growing and certain well-to-do locals took notice of this unspoilt little retreat on the coast. The first impressive villas built here were referred to as ‘chalets’, a misleading name for such grand properties surrounded by magnificent, landscaped gardens and these are synonymous with the initial phase of coastal development, the picturesque period. Over the years that followed, the benefits of the fresh, sea air became more popular, and rail links and new roads made the area more accessible to everyone. More modest properties were built in groups, and even orphanages and summer camps began to appear. In the early 1900s, even the poorest classes got the taste for the sea and started looking for seaside resorts that would welcome them: Saint-Marc seemed to be the answer. This beautiful spot fell victim to its own attractions during World War Two, as the Germans fortified the area, built camps and requisitioned the villas. Not long after the war, however, Saint-Marc was drawing holiday-makers once more. Its unique seaside atmosphere proved irresistible. French film-maker Jacques Tati made a fine decision when he chose this as the setting for his new film, Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot (Mr Hulot’s Holiday), in 1951!
