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
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