|
IN BRIEF
|
The swimming season is approaching, but not all French beaches offer the same promise of freshness! The latest report from Eau & Rivières de Bretagne raises doubts about our diving desires, revealing that no less than 83 beaches are now clearly classified as “to be avoided” in 2025. After a 2024 summer marked by record rainfall and overwhelmed sanitation, it is difficult to be carefree without risking an unpleasant surprise. So, before putting on your best swimsuit, take the time to find out which areas will show that scarlet red on the clean bathing map.
The summer season is approaching, and with it, the dream of refreshing swims by the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, or the English Channel. But beware: according to the recent report from Eau & Rivières de Bretagne, water quality is deteriorating, and 83 French beaches are now classified as “to be avoided” in 2025! This article dives into the results, explains the reasons for the increased pollution, details the ranking methodology, and guides you to best prepare for your next vacation… or, conversely, choose to avoid certain destinations.
Sad record: 83 French beaches see their ranking drop to the “to be avoided” category. The alert is issued by the Eau & Rivières de Bretagne association, which published a concerning report on the quality of bathing waters for the upcoming year on April 8, 2025. In 2024, the beaches classified as “to be avoided” were numbered at 80; the threshold has now been crossed. While the “recommended” beaches remain in the majority, their number has fallen for the first time below 600, to 593 sites (compared to 690 the previous year).
This decline has not gone unnoticed, as many vacationers hoped that the trend would reverse with the return of a milder summer. However, the opposite effect has occurred. Were you dreaming of fine sand and clear water? It is better to consult the interactive map on labelleplage.fr before booking your beach holiday. Otherwise, unpleasant surprises may spoil your vacation, similar to those included in this selection of destinations to avoid in 2025.
A rainy summer 2024: the perfect cocktail for contamination of French beaches
But how can we explain the increase in the number of polluted beaches? The report from Eau & Rivières de Bretagne points to the exceptional weather conditions of the summer 2024. Between torrential downpours, repeated storms, and massive runoff, the leaching of agricultural land has intensified. The result: pesticides, fertilizers, and other residues have found their way into rivers, and then to the ocean, via already overloaded sanitation systems. With each downpour, water quality has deteriorated, inflating the number of medium quality… or outright bad samples.
Aside from this weather phenomenon, aging infrastructures have not held up everywhere, worsening the situation in some coastal areas. The picture is equally grim in the overseas territories, where specific problems are addressed in files such as Guadeloupe, which also faces challenges for high-end tourism (learn more).
A more accessible ranking method for the general public
It is impossible to decipher this alert without understanding how Eau & Rivières de Bretagne analyzes the state of our coasts. Out with the technocratic jargon of European directives: the “La Belle Plage” classification focuses on simplicity, based on data from Regional Health Agencies collected over four years. To be among the beaches “to be avoided,” it is sufficient that less than 70% of the bacteriological samples are satisfactory… A figure that immediately resonates with vacationers and families seeking safety for their children.
Europe uses percentile calculations, which are highly technical, to estimate the concentration of enterococci and Escherichia coli. The Breton approach prioritizes direct access to clear information, even at the risk of attracting the wrath of official bodies — which is not uncommon, as evidenced by the reaction from ARS Bretagne. The debate indeed stirs passions on all Brittany beaches, not just on the stretches of sand where jellyfish lie.
Map of France: where are the least recommendable beaches?
Out of 1,854 analyzed beaches, the 2025 portrait is chilling. While 75% of sites are still classified as “recommended” or “low risk,” there is a clear decline compared to 2024 (a two-point drop). In detail, 814 beaches are categorized as “low risk,” 364 as “not recommended,” and 83 are already labeled “to be avoided.” These poor performers are clustered in several coastal areas, often victims of aging infrastructures or local agricultural pressures.
The dynamics of these classification changes are particularly alarming. Among the notable movements: 181 “recommended” beaches have shifted to “low risk,” and 83 have plunged into the red. So many unpleasant surprises that will sadly add spice to your next vacation choice.
Endless controversies: information or misinformation?
The choice of Eau & Rivières de Bretagne to alert, sometimes loudly, on critical points of our coastline continues to fuel public debate. ARS Bretagne does not hide its reluctance, arguing that this ranking contravenes European standards and offers only a snapshot, potentially misleading, of the actual quality of waters. Yes, but… the association had already won a legal victory against ARS in June 2023, forcing it to revise its assessment method. For Eau & Rivières, what matters is the public’s right to transparent, understandable, and accessible information for all.
Moreover, consulting the right rankings or navigating detailed maps (accessible on labelleplage.fr) becomes essential, especially if you dream of sailing across other horizons by crossing the English Channel by sailboat or if you prefer to observe Mars from beaches far from land pollution (get your binoculars ready!).
