ABSTRACT
This chapter relies on quantitative analysis. It is based on first-hand analysis of the most recent census data that have been released by the French Statistics Institute, INSEE. GIS and spatial analysis are used to bring forward new insight on the changing geography of vacation homes in France, with a focus also on the economic significance of residential development in different regions. The chapter discusses the environmental issues and planning challenges, raised particularly in coastal and mountain areas. It illustrates a detailed case-study of the coastal area of the department of Vende, on the Atlantic Ocean, south of Nantes. The chapter exemplifies the Vendean coast. France appears as a large and diverse country in the European context. The mid-nineteenth century introduced the British-born innovation of sea bathing in France during the Second Empire. In the vicinity of urban centres, many second home are now being sold in the market and returning to the condition of main residences.
