At the beginning of June 2024, the association Eau et Rivières de Bretagne (ERB) unveiled a study ranking the beaches of the French coastline according to their water quality. While in the north of France, almost all beaches are to be avoided, the south-east is divided. Here’s a detailed list of beaches in Marseille where swimming should be avoided this summer.
Which beaches to avoid this summer in Marseille?
While temperatures are currently hovering around 30 degrees, the sun isn’t always shining. However, the bravest among us have already put on their swimsuits for the first swim of the year. While Marseille boasts many beautiful places to swim the water quality is not always up to scratch.
The ranking of the association Eau et Rivières de Bretagne (ERB) is clear. Blue dots indicate beaches where bathing is recommended, green dots indicate beaches where bathing is not very risky, orange dots indicate beaches where bathing is not recommended and red dots indicate beaches to be avoided.
In Marseille, only the Saint-Estève beach area on Frioul Island ( ) should be avoided, but there are 7 orange spots. These include Pointe Rouge beach, the Prado beaches, Plage du Prophète and Plage des Catalans.
There are many reasons for water contamination. In addition to pollution, we can also point the finger at human activities such as maritime traffic or sewage dumping, but also at bacteria that are difficult to control..
Rest assured, many of Marseille’s beaches are risk-free. The Bains de Dames and Anse des Phocéens show a reassuring green dot. And for even greater safety, don’t hesitate to consult the beach weather forecast to find out if it’s safe to swim.