Category — Beaches and Sea in Provence

“Provence Coast” region combines the best of Provence land and Mediterranean Sea. It is an unique region for discovering spectacular beaches overlooking the blue sea. Sandy beaches, coves or rocky spots along the sea offer a variety of scenery and water activities, but all are exclusive spots for enjoying splashes and swimming in the blue Mediterranean Sea.

Selected beaches along the Provence Coast:

Le Prado Beach in Marseille
Calanques coves in Cassis (some areas are clothe optional)
La Ciotat Beaches
Les Lecques in Saint Cyr/mer
Renecros Beach in Bandol
Plage Doree, La Gorguette, Beaucour, Port-Issol / La Kima beaches in Sanary
Bonnegrace and Les Lones in Six-Fours
Gaou and Embiez Islands coves in Le Brusc
Les Sablettes Beach in La Seyne / Tamaris
Le Mourillon Beach in Toulon

Each has a unique feel and scenery: long sandy beach, small coves beneath the cliffs, smooth pebbles, surrounded by Mediterranean Pines or luxuous hotels, availability of restaurants or small snacks food stands, children playground or clothes optional (all do allow topless !), snorkeling trails, swimming area, water activities…

Sanary Bay… 1967

National Geographic, June 1967 – French Riviera: Storied Playground on the Azure Coast

This beach at the Eastern side of Sanary/mer (in Six-fours-les-plages) is the Bonnegrace Beach. It is ideal for swimming and it is guarded from June to October. The beach is made of very small smooth pebbles. It is of easy access from Sanary/mer and Six-fours / La Seyne. It offers a great view to the Embiez Island and sunset on the west.

It has playgrounds for kids and it offers areas for windsurfing, surfing and jet-skiing.

It is great all year long for sunbathing or enjoying walk along the boardwalk and stops at one of many and very good restaurants or pizza/crepes shops.

Six-Fours-Les-Plages

Snorkeling Trails in Port-Issol Bay

Port-Issol is an unique historical beach where the scuba diving pioneers (P.Thailliez, F. Dumas and J-Y Cousteau) performed their first scuba dives. Port-Issol was also a Roman port and trading place. Ruins are still visible at the east side of the beach.

It is a great spot for snorkeling and during summer months (July-August), guide snorkeling tours are available.

On the west end on the beach, beyond the first set of cliffs, a small area with private beach rentals offers a unique spot to view the bay and eat unique local seafood specialties at La Kima Beach.

Beware of JellyFish!

They love French Riviera too!

No one likes them but they are members of the sea world and even paradise spots on the Mediterranean have to deal with their presence. The most common Jellyfish in this part of the Mediterranean is the Pelagia Noctula, a small purple transparent jelly creature that can sting when a body touches its fine invisible tentacules. The sting is not dangerous for human but very irritating, and may lead to allergies if a large number of stings are present.

Jellyfish come and go with currents and according to the location of the beach (exposed to South,, East, West…) and the strength of the currents and winds they are more or less present. Usually a current from South (from the high sea) will tend to push jellyfish to the shore. A wind, current from the North (land) will push jellyfish away from the shore. This is a general trend along Provence Coast but many local variables can affect the presence of jellyfish or not. A large study -Jellyfish Watch Program – is underway to develop projection models for estimating the presence of jellyfish or not in various locations according to weather conditions, jellyfish population density in the region, shape and exposure of the sea shore. Possibly by 2012, beach authorities on the Mediterranean sea will publish daily forecast about the probability of the presence of jellyfish.

The best way to get protected is to wear a full swim wetsuit or even better a StingerSuit. You may not see many people trying to protect themselves with full protective suits as fashion and dress code in France is what dictate behaviors, even on the beach!
Note: I DO use a StingerSuit when there are jellyfish and I am very much noticed on the beach and certainly a source of high disapproval regarding fashion and style, however I am also the source of lot of envy as I can go to the water and enjoy a wonderful swim in the Mediterranean without any risk of bad stings.

Beach Regulation

On all guarded beaches, dogs and ball games are forbidden except in designated areas. Feeding fish, spearfishing and fishing are not allow in swimming areas. It is recommended to be very cautious when getting into the water after sunbathing, the difference in temperature between the beach and the sea can induce thermal shock especially in the middle of summer.

All beaches, unless mentioned are non clothes optional although topless and very small bikini and thongs are allowed…

Larger View of Cassis and ‘Les Calanques’ Area

Aubagne
Aubagne

Cassis
Cassis

Larger view of La Ciotat and Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer area

La Ciotat
La Ciotat
Shuttle boat to “Green Island” from La Ciotat harbor (French)
“Calanques” visit from La Ciotat (French)

Saint-Cyr-sur-mer
Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer
Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer official website
Dolce Fregate Resort – St-Cyr-sur-mer

Larger View of Bandol and Bendor Island Area

Bandol
Bandol
Bandol Yacht Club (French)

Bendor Island
Bendor Island

 
Larger View of Sanary-sur-Mer and Ollioules Area

Sanary-sru-mer

• Frederic Dumas Historical Diving Museum – Video
• Map of residences of German and Austrian artists and intellectual exiled (1933-1945)

An unique place on the Provence coast, is the little fishing town of Sanary-sur-mer. Its climate, location, history, culture and lifestyle make it an ideal choice to start discovering the coast of Provence.

Sanary – Facts of interest

• Greeks and romans had trading posts in the gulfs around Sanary-sur-mer. The surrounding beaches are rich in archeological vestiges and ruins (i.e:Port Issol)
• Intellectual and artists took refuge in Sanary-sur-mer between 1st and 2nd world wars – B. Brecht, T. Mann… lived in still existing houses in Sanary-sur-mer. Other famous anglo-saxon writers have spent time in Sanary. Amoung them, Aldous Huxley who wrote Brave New World (1932) in 4 months in La Gorguette area in Sanary-sur-mer
• Sanary is considered as the birth place of modern scuba diving and underwater movies. F. Dumas, P. Tailliez and J.Y Cousteau, also known as ‘Mousquemers‘, experimented modern scuba diving equipment and made famous underwater movies in the sea around Sanary-sur-mer (Port Issol, Bandol bay).
• Sanary-sur-mer is known for its unique wooden fishing boats
• Some of the eldest wineyeards (dating from roman empire) can be found in Bandol, Le Beausset, … few miles west of Sanary-sur-mer.

Sanary-sur-mer Resources

Official site of the city of Sanary-sur-mer (French)
Tourist and general information (French)
Sanary-sur-mer local information (French)
Sanary-sur-mer history (French)
Frederic Dumas Historical Diving Museum 
Fontvive – Village of bungalows in Sanary
Sanary-sur-mer accommodations
Sanary-sur-mer restaurants and cafes
 

Sanary-sur-mer Local Links

AGORA community organization (French)
Sanary Hand Ball (French)
“Le Rosaire” Tennis Club (French)

Ollioules

Ollioules web portal (French)
Ollioules official website

Jacques Cousteau, Frederic Dumas and Phillipe Thailliez have been the pioneers of modern diving and they started and developed their technics and skills in the waters of Sanary-sur-mer and Bandol. The Frédéric Dumas International Diving Museum in Sanary-sur-mer contains unique collection of original diving equipments used in the adventure of modern diving

Diving Links

• Frédéric Dumas International Diving Museum – http://www.scuba-museum.com/
• New belvedere commemorating the “Mousquemers”: Cousteau, Dumas and Thailliez – View some pics of the inauguration at http://www.toutsanary.fr/musee
• http://www.sanary.com/plongee.php
• Diving in the Mediterranean Sea

Sanary sur Mer

• Sanary-sur-mer Diving Center

Port Issol Bay Underwater

Six-fours-les-plages

• Cap Plongee (La Coudouliere) – http://www.blogger.com/www.capplongee.com
• Ghost Sea – http://www.blogger.com/www.ghostsea.com CPIE – http://www.blogger.com/www.clubplongee.net
• Littoral Bleu Aventure (snorkeling, aquatic discovery) – http://www.blogger.com/www.littoral-bleu.com

La Seyne sur Mer

• Au Marin Plongeur – http://www.blogger.com/www.aumarinplongeur.fr
• Hippocampe – http://www.blogger.com/www.hippocampe.com

Diving Sites – Islands

• Bendor Island – Off Bandol Coast This small island, 7 minutes by boat from Bandol, is the hosting place of the smallest harbor on the Mediterranean.
• Embiez Island The Embiez archipelago is a jewel of the Mediterranean with 95 ha of forest, vineyards, ‘garrigue’ and gardens. It is located 10 minutes by boat ride from Le Brusc harbor in Six-Fours-les-Plages, and 20 minutes from Sanary.
• Port-Cros, Le Levant and Porquerolles

Additional Information

Larger View of Porquerolles, Port-Cros, Le Levant Islands Area

Porquerolles

Port Cros

Le Levant

“Les Pins Maritimes” camping (Fr)