398 French beaches awarded ‘blue label’ in 2024: map and list details
Check the beaches near you - but beware, the absence of the label does not necessarily mean a site is ‘bad’
The blue flag ‘Pavillon Bleu’ can be flown at sites that have met the criteria, but the absence of the accolade does not necessarily mean the beach is badLicvin/Shutterstock
Almost 400 beaches in France have been awarded the ‘Pavillon Bleu’ label for 2024, in recognition of their “tourist policies that respect the environment and humans”.
The label ‘Pavillon Bleu (blue flag)’ comes from the association Teragir, and has been awarded to tourist beaches, ports, and other bodies of water and tourist sites that meet its standards for the past four decades.
This year’s list and map were unveiled on May 23, with a boat on the list for the first time, with 505 sites awarded the label in total.
“As the summer season approaches, this year's label rewards 398 beaches, 106 marinas and 1 boat for implementing a development policy that respects the environment and people,” said Teragir.
The beaches and ports are spread across 186 communes. A full list by region and department can be seen at the Pavillon Bleu website (with a free PDF to download for a better-quality map and list).
A map of the 2024 Pavillon Bleu beaches and portsPavillonBleu.org
There are several criteria to meet to be awarded the label, both for the beach or port itself and for its managing authority. These criteria are spread across categories including:
General environment
Safety
Ethics and sustainability
Responsible water management
Waste management
Environmental education and awareness
Biodiversity
In the case of boats, those that offer “tourist excursion and nature observation activities” may be shortlisted for the label
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Sites that are awarded the accolade have the right to display the Pavillon Bleu to show that they meet the standards.
However, it is important to note that the beaches (and other sites) must apply for the chance to receive the label, and they must also pay to be included. This means that if a beach does not have the Pavillon Bleu label, it does not necessarily mean that it is a ‘bad’ or unsafe beach.
The best regions
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The regions of Occitanie, Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur, and Nouvelle-Aquitaine have the most sites on the list.
Occitanie: 107 beaches, 20 ports
Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur: 91 beaches, 28 ports
Nouvelle-Aquitaine: 57 sites, plus the Explore Océan boat.
Every region has at least one ‘beach’ and port with the accolade.
