Beaches are clean and ready to go!

10,000 cubic metres of pebbles have been scattered over the beach in Nice, in preparation for the summer

The Metropolis Nice Côte d'Azur has always used its enticing beaches and crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean as the major selling point of the region. And with four million tourists each year, Nice is the most popular tourist attraction in France after Paris. 

So a series of clean-up measures have been put in place so residents and visitors can enjoy the azure blue waters of the Baie des Anges this summer. The procedures also aim to regulate swimming and boating activities.

Eleven first aid stations will be in operation along the public beaches of the Promenade des Anglais including Carras, Sainte Hélène, Fabron, Magnan, Poincaré, Forum, Lido, Beau Rivage, Ponchettes, Coco and Centenaire beaches. The newly created smoke-free beach of Centaire will also include an access ramp for disabled individuals. 

Additionally, 10,000 cubic metres of pebbles, equivalent to 1,000 semi-trailer trucks, has been spread on the beaches of the Côte d'Azur capital, costing a total of 780,000 euros. 

In Cannes, around 650,000 euros is spent each year in maintaining 25,000 cubic metres of sand from the Mediterranean sea as well as installing extensive nets designed to catch jelly fish along the beaches of Gazagnaire, Mace and Roubine. At the same time, the town plants an abundance of palm trees, creating shade and allowing visitors to enjoy the beaches despite the blasting temperatures.  

There are a total of 33 private beaches along the Croissette and scattered among them are a few public beaches including Plage Mace and Zamenoff. There is also Bijou Plage, a beach specially designed for handicapped people.

There will be 60 lifeguards and police operating during the day along the Cannes coastline, and poles featuring colourful designs have been installed to help reunite lost children with their parents. 

As well as removing litter and sea waste, the town of Saint Tropez has also improved the public services of its wildly popular and extremely picturesque beaches. This year they have renovated a number of car parks and have installed ramps at beaches Le Diamont and Le Maxime, creating easy access for the disabled community. Bio-diversity is an important factor in the preservation of the town's illustrious stretch of sands, so the community of Saint Tropez will also raise awareness with a poster campaign, saying that seaweed isn't dirty and is necessary to preserve the ecosystem. 

Monaco has recognised the increasing problem of cigarette butt litter on beaches and has decided to bring back the system Monaco Plage Propre, aiming to reduce the amount of cigarette ends left on the golden sands each year. For the third consecutive year, ashtrays will be distributed to the influx of visitors and residents along Larvetto beach, commencing from May right through to September. A total of 4000 ashtrays are expected to be handed out during the summer months. 

The council of Vallauris-Golfe Juan has declared that three sandy beaches in the picturesque setting of Golfe Juan les Pins will be taken over privately. The beach, Serge Garcia-Alain Dental, will include a host of fun water activities and a line of bathing establishments will be set up along the golden beaches of Les Sarl-So Beach and Rex. 

During the end of March, a collection of clean-up programmes were also created to prepare the beaches for the bustling summer season. They were organised by the Surfrieder Foundation Europe (SFE) and clean-ups extended from Grau du roi and Marseille in the west to Antibes and Menton in the east, including 60 operations in Bouches du Rhône, 30 in the Var and 10 on the Côte d'Azur. Dedicated volunteers came together to remove debris from the beaches and clear detritus from the sea, making it a clean and safe environment for the influx of tourists this summer.

In Antibes, the paddling association rounded together 50 volunteers to clean its shoreline. 

Now all that's left to do, is enjoy it!

Katie Williams