Overview
In France, the spots shown on Oukonjou are the bathing sites monitored by the French health ministry: every summer, the regional health agency (ARS) has the water tested. Each listing shows the site's official rating: excellent, good, sufficient or poor. In the other countries covered, swimming spots come from OpenStreetMap and have no quality rating.
A swimming spot may or may not be supervised. At a supervised beach, lifeguards keep watch from a lifeguard post, at set hours and over a period chosen by the local council. A flagpole shows the conditions of the moment, and two red-and-yellow flags mark out the swimming zone. Outside those zones and periods you swim at your own risk, and a municipal order may also ban swimming in some places.
There are two ways to check the water. The yearly rating sums up the test results of the last four seasons. Results for the current season are posted at the site and published on baignades.sante.gouv.fr. To play on the sand after a swim, look for a beach volleyball court nearby.
Where to find swimming spots
22 swimming spots listed in 14 towns.
By country
Best-equipped towns
- Marseille 2
- Nice 2
- La Ciotat 2
- Ajaccio 2
- Fort-de-France 2
- Annecy 2
- Geneva 2
- Zurich 2
- Brest 1
- Monaco 1
- Lausanne 1
- Neuchâtel 1
- Lugano 1
- Bern 1
Who it's for
Rules of use
A swimming spot is shared by swimmers, families, walkers and sometimes water sports users. These rules keep everyone safe.
- Follow the flag colour and the lifeguards' instructions: they know the day's hazards.
- Where red-and-yellow flags are planted, swim between them, during supervised hours.
- Do not swim where a sign or municipal order bans it, even if the water looks calm.
- Keep clear of areas set aside for surfing and water craft, marked by black-and-white chequered flags.
- Read the information board on site: it shows local rules and the latest water test results.
- Respect temporary closures, for example after a storm, pollution or a cyanobacteria bloom.
- Never dive into water when you do not know how deep it is, whether from a rock, a jetty or a bridge.
Safety and gear
- Choose supervised zones: if something goes wrong, help arrives faster.
- For children, pick one adult to watch them who does nothing else, and get in the water with them.
- Get into the water gradually, especially if it is cold or you have been in the sun for a long time.
- Do not drink alcohol before or while swimming, and stay out at the first sign of shivering or feeling unwell.
- If a current catches you, do not fight it: stay calm, wave your arms to signal for help and let it carry you. Once it weakens, swim out of it around the side.
- Swimming in a lake or river is harder than in a pool. Tell someone before you set off and take a tow float.
- In an emergency, call 112. At sea in France, 196 puts you straight through to the coastguard rescue centre (CROSS).
Regulations
In the European Union, which includes France, Belgium and Luxembourg, this directive governs how bathing water is monitored. It sets four quality classes: excellent, good, sufficient and poor.
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.
Switzerland does not apply the EU directive. Swimming rules are set locally, and the Swiss Lifesaving Society (SLRG/SSS) publishes safety advice known as its swimming maxims.
Flags, their colours and supervision rules vary from country to country, and sometimes from town to town. In Belgium, Luxembourg, Andorra and Monaco, go by the signs posted on site and the lifeguards' instructions.
European standards are voluntary, but they are the reference when an accident happens. The rules posted on site always come first.
Etiquette
- Take all your rubbish home, cigarette ends included: they end up in the water.
- A UV shirt and a hat mean less sunscreen, which leaves a film on the water's surface.
- Stick to the marked paths: dunes and riverbanks are fragile and home to protected wildlife and plants.
- Do not feed animals, and watch water birds from a distance, especially in spring.
- Keep your music in your headphones and leave your neighbours some room.
- Check whether dogs are allowed: a municipal order often bans them from beaches in season.
Glossary
- Supervised swimming
- A zone and period where lifeguards watch over swimmers from a lifeguard post.
- Swimming zone
- The area between two red-and-yellow flags, supervised while the lifeguard post is open.
- Lifeguard post
- The lifeguards' station, with the flagpole and often a board showing the weather, water quality and local rules.
- Baïne
- A pool that forms at low tide on some Atlantic beaches in France. When the tide turns, it can empty suddenly and create a current that pulls swimmers out to sea.
- Rip current
- A current flowing away from the beach. Do not fight it: let it carry you, then swim out of it around the side.
- Cold water shock
- A sudden reaction to cold water, especially after a long time in the sun or after exercise.
- Cyanobacteria
- Micro-organisms that can bloom in lakes and rivers in summer. They can lead to a temporary swimming ban.
- Quality rating
- The official water rating (excellent, good, sufficient, poor), based on test results from the last four seasons.
In 2025, France's regional health agencies tested the water at 3,378 bathing sites: 2,089 at sea and 1,289 in fresh water.
What to bring
- Brightly coloured open-water tow float
- Brightly coloured swim cap
- Water shoes for rocky bottoms
- UV shirt, hat and sunscreen
- Water bottle
FAQ
Is swimming free?
The spots shown on Oukonjou are natural swimming places. Access to the shore is usually free, but some managed lakes charge for entry or parking: check on site.
What do the flag colours mean?
In France, green means supervised swimming with no apparent danger, yellow supervised swimming with limited or marked danger, and red no swimming. Purple warns of pollution or dangerous species. No flag means no supervision. Other countries may use different codes.
Is the spot supervised?
Only in the zones and periods set by the local council, often in summer. Hours are posted at the lifeguard post. The rest of the time you swim at your own risk.
How can I check the water quality?
In France, every listing shows the site's official rating, based on the last four seasons. For the latest results, check the board on site or baignades.sante.gouv.fr, which also lists temporary closures.
Can I swim out of season or outside the supervised zone?
Yes, unless a sign or municipal order says otherwise, but at your own risk: nobody will see you if you get into trouble. Never swim alone and tell someone where you are going.
What should I do if someone is in trouble in the water?
Alert the lifeguards if there are any, otherwise call 112, or 196 at sea in France. Do not jump in empty-handed: hold out or throw something that floats and keep the person in sight.