Map: The 101 French communes affected by coastal erosion

There are 126 French communes (101 in mainland France and 25 in the overseas territories) that are at serious risk of coastal erosion over the next century, a new list published by the government shows. 

The majority of the communes are situated along the Atlantic coast or by the English Channel. There are 41 in Brittany, 16 in Normandy and 31 in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.  

The following map represents affected communes. You can hover over the points to see the name of the commune.

To learn more about the problem of coastal erosion in France, read our article: Solar, erosion, renovation: Four updates for property owners in France

In areas threatened by coastal erosion in the next 30 years, new construction is prohibited, with a few exceptions. 

In areas threatened by coastal erosion in around 100 years, new construction is still permitted but will come with an eventual obligation to demolish the building when the threat increases. 

The list of 126 affected communes is the following:

• Île-de-Bréhat

• Binic-Étables-sur-Mer

• Trégastel

• Plougrescant

• Saint-Quay-Portrieux

• Trévou-Tréguignec

• Penvénan

• Plérin

• Pleubian

• Saint-Brieuc

• Lannion

• Trébeurden

• Trédrez-Locquémeau

• Trélévern

• Arzon

• Quiberon

• Saint-Pierre-Quiberon

• Le Palais

• Brélès

• Camaret-sur-Mer

• Carantec

• Le Conquet

• Guissény

• Île-Molène

• Kerlouan

• Lampaul-Plouarzel

• Lampaul-Ploudalmezeau

• Landéda

• Landunvez

• Lanildut

• Locmaria-Plouzané

• Locquirec

• Plouarzel

• Plougasnou

• Plougonvelin

• Ploumoguer

• Porspoder

• Saint-Martin-des-Champs

• Saint-Pabu

• Trébabu

• Tréglonou

• Ault

• Saint-Quentin-en-Tourmont

• Asnelles

• Bernières-sur-Mer

• Courseulles-sur-Mer

• Saint-Côme-de-Fresné

• Agon-Coutainville

• Jullouville

• Donville-les-Bains

• Montmartin-sur-Mer

• Saint-Jean-le-Thomas

• Héauville

• Lingreville

• Genêts

• Criel-sur-Mer

• Dieppe

• Quiberville-sur-mer

• Sainte-Marguerite-sur-mer

• Île-d'Aix

• Arces

• Les Mathes

• Saint-Palais-sur-Mer

• Fouras

• Saint-Georges-d'Oléron

• Talmont-sur-Gironde

• Port-des-Barques

• L'Houmeau

• La Brée-les-Bains

• Arcachon

• Lacanau

• Lège-Cap-Ferret

• Soulac-sur-Mer

• La Teste-de-Buch

• Vendays-Montalivet

• Carcans

• Le Verdon-sur-Mer

• Mimizan

• Capbreton

• Soorts-Hossegor

• Ondres

• Seignosse

• Vielle-Saint-Girons

• Biscarrosse

• Anglet

• Biarritz

• Bidart

• Ciboure

• Guéthary

• Saint-Jean-de-Luz

• Fleury

• Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone

• Collioure

• Saint-Brevin-les-Pins

• Saint-Nazaire

• Assérac

• La Baule-Escoublac

• Pornichet

• La Tranche-sur-Mer

• Èze

• Cassis

• Baillif

• Bouillante

• Deshaies

• Le Moule

• Pointe-Noire

• Port-Louis

• Saint-François

• Sainte-Anne

• Terre-de-Haut

• Macouria

• Cayenne

• Awala-Yalimapo

• Basse-Pointe

• Case-Pilote

• Saint-Pierre

• Grand'Rivière

• Le Lorrain

• Les Trois-Îlets

• Le Prêcheur

• Le Robert

• Sainte-Luce

• Sainte-Marie

• Schœlcher

• La Trinité

• Macouba

Related articles

French house prices rose by up to 19% in 2021: How did your area do?

Coastal boom, inflation: Six French property trends from notaire data