Swimming spots in France

Article L.2213-23 of the French local authorities code (Code général des collectivités territoriales) makes the mayor responsible for policing swimming, at sea up to 300 metres from the shore. The mayor marks out supervised zones and sets supervision periods. Outside them, people swim at their own risk. The mayor must inform the public of the rules at the town hall and on site.

Since 1 March 2022 (decree no. 2022-105 of 31 January 2022), free, equipped and authorised bathing sites use rectangular flags: green for supervised swimming with no apparent danger, yellow for supervised swimming with limited or marked danger, red for no swimming. Two red-and-yellow flags mark out the supervised zone. A purple flag warns of pollution or dangerous species such as jellyfish. If no flag is flying, swimming is not supervised.

During the season, the regional health agency has the water sampled at least four times per site and tested for bacteria that indicate faecal contamination (Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci). Cyanobacteria are monitored separately, so a site rated excellent can still be closed for a while.