Why aren't there major cities on the Atlantic coast of France?

Question

I see Bordeaux and Nantes, but they are a short ways inland. The U.S. has several like New York, Boston, Miami, Charleston.

Answer 1

There are several major cities on the Atlantic coast of France, including Brest and Biarritz, though these cities may not be as familiar to non-French people as cities like Paris and Nice. One possible reason for the lower density of cities on the Atlantic coastline is the terrain, which tends to be very marshy, and is therefore more difficult to build on. Bordeaux and Nantes solve this problem because they are accessible by sea via estuary, while still being built on the more stable, inland terrain.