Paris Beaches

In French it's called �Paris Plage' which of course means the Paris Beach. The thing about this beach is that you only find it in summer, or rather for one whole month in summer between the end of July and the end of August and it is open from the morning up until midnight.

It all began in 2002 when the Mayor of the city got three areas along the Seine done up as beaches. Initially criticized as being wasteful and unnecessary, somehow, these three have grown to become very much a part of Paris in summer. The great thing is that there are so many activities that have sprung up around these three places and suddenly, summer is a time when there is so much more to do. The sites are all very accessible and even the disabled can easily get to the water.

The first beach can be found between the Louvre and Pont de Sully and this has been done up to resemble a very traditional beach. So you have sandy beaches, chaise lounges with gaily colored parasols, snack bars and restaurants skirting the shore with free concerts adding to the gaiety. There are many activities here like skating, rock climbing and the trampoline.

The second one is for water sports lovers and you can find it in Bassin de la Villette. You have everything that any water sports enthusiast could ask for. Sailboats, canoes, kayaking and you'll find a number of instructors willing to give you a lesson or two. On the beach, there are art exhibits and films that are screened.

The third beach is near the National Library and is really a modern, classy affair. There's wi-fi all over, newspapers and books to read and of course the large pool to swim in. Come sundown, there's live music to keep the tempo going.

For more beaches and not the man-made ones, you will have to travel further afield to the beaches along the Normandy coast to those in Nice. The French Riviera will give you a choice of beaches that are so very sophisticated and who knows you might spot a celebrity or two considering that it is the playground of the rich and famous! You could take a cruise along this area too and not just sample the beautiful beaches but also the wonderful French cuisine that these places have to offer. Not to mention the wine, the truffles and the caviar if you can afford it. Or the racing, the gambling and the other entertainment that you will find all along France's beachy stretch.