France rightly has a strong reputation for the quality of its beaches, with the overwhelming majority of beaches suitable for bathing. You can find some of our favourites at Best Beaches in France
Nevertheless, around 5% have pollution levels that are a risk to health, according to a recent study carried out by the highly respected environmental campaign group Eau et Rivières de Bretagne (ERB).
Although based in Brittany, the group campaign nationally against maritime pollution levels, and over the years they have won many legal cases against the public authorities.
In a recent study of pollution levels, the group analysed figures produced by the public health authorities (Agences Régionale de Santé) to arrive at their own conclusions about the quality of water on French beaches.
According to the group, the classification system used by the French authorities (intended for comparison on a European scale), describes the average quality of bathing water but it does not reflect the reality of risks concerning bathers.
The study claims that out of the total ot 1,854 beaches in France, 93 beaches are "to be avoided" and 316 are "not recommended". Some 690 beaches are recommended for bathing, and 755 are considered "low risk". The worst ranked beaches are in Alpes-Maritimes, the North, Pas-de-Calais, Calvados, and the north coast of Brittany.
Most of these beaches are located at the outlet of basins where livestock fertilizer is spread, which is notoriously loaded with bacteria.
The best ranked are located on the Atlantic coast and in Occitanie. In the classification, the beaches of Lège-Cap-Ferret (Gironde), Palavas-les-Flots (Hérault) and Etel (Morbihan) lead the pack.
A complete list of the beaches and their classification can be found at
