Beach

398 French beaches awarded ‘blue label’ in 2024: map and list details

Check the beaches near you - but beware, the absence of the label does not necessarily mean a site is ‘bad’

SEE: 3 French beaches named among most beautiful in world

A guide to the top 100 includes the coasts of Corsica, Brittany, and Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur

Moving letter from daughter to late father in US washes up in Gironde

‘You are my legend’: The letter - well-sealed in a glass bottle - allowed the finder to trace the writer, 6,000 km away

Pollution: Complaint lodged over plastic microbeads on French coast

The beads are used in plastic production industries and can cause severe, invasive pollution to nature. It is thought an industrial accident may be the cause

Dunkirk beach swimming resumes after E. Coli suspicion

A spokesperson for the city's mairie says it is not known if the cause is linked with overflowing sewage water in the UK

Best beaches in France 2022: ‘Blue Flag’ sustainable list revealed

The accolade recognises the beaches and marinas that have a ‘policy for the development of tourism that respects the environment and human beings’

Masks: What are rules for beaches and campsites in France?

Do I need to wear a mask at the beach or at an outdoor pool at a campsite in France?

COP26: New map shows 20% of French coast at risk from erosion

Regions with sandy coasts are most at risk, data shows, with estimates suggesting that by 2100, as many as 47,000 homes could be affected

Beaches on Basque coast reopen after toxic risk from smelly algae ends

Beaches closed on Basque coast and Marseille fishermen up in arms due to negative impact of non-native species on marine environment

Donkeys trialled as beach-cleaners at Pampelonne beach in Saint-Tropez

The often-stubborn but effective animals began work at the start of the season and are used in the collection of around 100 litres of cigarette stubs and other waste from the white sand every morning

Danger of hidden currents for sea swimmers in southwest France

A campaign is being launched to warn about the risks of baïnes - calm looking patches of sea common along the Atlantic coast - which can pull swimmers out to deeper water

French police ask topless sunbather to cover up

A woman sunbathing topless on a beach in France was asked by police to put her bikini top on after a family nearby complained. There is no law against topless sunbathing in France.

Naturist resort in France sees ‘worrying’ rise Covid cases

At least 150 guests have tested positive for Covid-19 at a popular naturist village in Cap D’Agde in southern France, which health authorities have described as “very worrying”.

France’s cleanest beaches for 2020 revealed

A total of 401 beaches and 106 ports in France have been recognised for their cleanliness in 2020, by awarding body Pavillon Bleu .

French departments give €1m in summer tourist vouchers

Two departments in France have proposed giving away up to €1 million in €100 vouchers this summer, in a bid to encourage visits to the area and revitalise the local economy.

Deconfinement in France: PM to outline second phase

The French Prime Minister is to address the country this Thursday (May 28) to detail the second phase of deconfinement, including whether bars and restaurants will reopen, and if travel beyond 100km will be allowed.

Some beaches reopen with new rules in France

Some beaches are now open again to the public.

Gendarme's routine patrol blows up on social media

'Sunbather' on locked-down beach in France is not all she appears

Artist turns French beach into message for Australia

Giant fresco of koala drawn on sand in Nouvelle Aquitaine delivers dual message - with a little help from passers-by

Inquiry into 100kg drug discovery on French west coast

An inquiry has been opened after more than 700 kilograms of “high purity” drugs - mainly cocaine - were discovered on the Atlantic coast of France in the past three weeks.

War on plastic waste takes to French beaches

French couple faces six years jail for sand ‘souvenir’

A French couple is facing up to six years in prison after trying to take home some sand from their holiday in Sardinia, Italy.

‘2,000 jobs at risk’ at private beaches

Strict interpretation of 2006 decree forcing private beaches to reduce in size

French start-up installs urinals for women in Paris

New female urinals created by a French start-up have been installed in Paris in a bid to cut long waiting times for women at public toilets.

Marseille defends beach safety after weekend closures

Tests found the sea water was unsafe to swim, officials said

France warned over seaside shellfish dangers

Holidaymakers in France are being warned over picking up their own shellfish and seafood from the seaside with a view to eating it later, as the risk of poisoning may be high.

France alert to beach green algae after sudden death

The danger of toxic green sea algae naturally found on the Breton coast has come into renewed question after an 18-year-old oyster farmer died suddenly on a beach.

France’s best beaches and leisure areas named for 2019

The best beaches and harbours in France have been announced, as the 2019 Pavillon Bleu list has named this year’s winners across the country.

Loggerhead turtles in rare hatching on French beach

Over 60 baby loggerhead turtles have hatched on a beach near Montpellier (Hérault, Occitanie), becoming one of the only known cases of the species ever successfully reproducing in France.

Have fun at the beach but beware currents

With around 150 deaths by drowning on French beaches last year, divided almost equally between the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts, holidaymakers should beware the dangers and, if there are flags flying, do what they say.

France still ‘tourism world champion’ as sector soars

France is on track to stay “champion of the world in tourism”, the government has said, as it confirms that the tourism industry grew in the first half of 2018 and had a record 2017, after two tough years.

Having to clean beaches is shameful

France’s Pavillon Bleu was the world’s first blue flag scheme for clean beaches. Here, Samantha David finds out what coastal authorities have to do to be awarded the prestigious mark

399 French beaches win Pavillon Bleu flags

France is third on European list for prestigious flag

Floating ‘sea bins’ come to France’s ocean ports

Floating sea “rubbish bins” that suck up rubbish in the ocean and improve seawater quality are to be adopted across the country after being successfully tested in the Hérault (Occitanie).

Two mystery dolphins found washed up on Brittany coast

Investigations are underway after two dolphins were found washed up on Brittany beaches this week for no apparent reason, at Perros-Guirec and Trégastel respectively.

Thick white mousse washes up on Biarritz beaches

Huge waves of white mousse have washed up on the Biarritz coast, after the region was put on Météo France orange alert for coastline flooding this week.

Coastal clean-up groups also help to trace polluters

Volunteers regularly clean up debris from France’s beaches along the Channel and Atlantic coasts but several also try to trace the origin of the tonnes of rubbish and, perhaps, work to stop it.

Deadly creatures wash up on Finistère shores

Portuguese Man o' War stranded on beaches in north of Brittany department

Beach-goers chill out without Wifi

No phones, no Kindles, no iPads...

New beach mat helps disabled visitors enjoy seaside

A beach in Bouches-du-Rhône has come up with an innovative mat solution to help disabled beach-goers to access the sand and shoreline more easily.

Corsica nudist beach shooter is local café owner

A shooting on a Corsica nudist beach was carried out by a disgruntled local businessman, police have confirmed.

How to protect against vive fish stings this summer

If you have any seaside bathing planned this summer, watch out for the venomous 'weaver' or 'weever' fish (known as ‘ vive ’ fish in French).

Burkini debate reignited by small-town ban

The mayor of Lorette in the Loire has banned the burkini and the veil from a new outdoor pool in the area