07 July 2007

Private and public beaches

Here's a photograph of another private beach. Following on from yesterday's post on the subject, and the resulting comments on the correctness of there being such a thing as a private beach - with which I totally agree, I have added the following paragraph to yesterday's post but here it is to save you looking back.

To clarify the term 'private beach' - there are nearly a dozen private beaches in Menton, where you rent sun beds, have bar service and can eat lunch in the restaurant. In spite of the many private beach areas, there are many free beaches (such as the Plage des Sablettes). However, the entire beach front along the water - private or public - is open to public access.

The cost of hiring a sunbed for the day is around 10 euros - some a little more - and less for half a day, of course. Many consider this well worth it for the comfort and space and convenience of the bar/restaurant/toilets. The public beaches are always very crowded in summer. I'll post a photograph of a public beach tomorrow.

10 comments:

  1. Anonymous07 July, 2007

    Private beaches. Amazing place you live in. Nice photos too.

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  2. In my younger years I would never have paid for the comfort of the private beach, but now... it looks inviting

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  3. Looks nice but no one hardly there. Maybe it's an off day.

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  4. I'm with Steve Buser on this. I could see paying a little extra for the comforts you've described. Looks extremely relaxing and likely a bit quieter than the overcrowded public beaches.

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  5. lv2scpbk - I took this photo at lunchtime one day so most people were further up the beach eating! - which is what the French love to do! Me too...

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  6. Just about any activity around a good beach is fun: eating, reading, sleeping,...

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  7. PS. Forgot to mention topless sunbathing, right Isabella?!

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  8. They are not really private beaches as they are open to everybody (with money).... I have heard that on the French Riviera there were some beaches which were completely fenced. Is that right or does that date back to a few decades ago?

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  9. Marie

    There are private and public beaches. The private ones offer sunbeds and many facilities and you pay a fee to hire a sunbed for the day or half day. However, the entire beach front along the water - public or private - is open to everyone.

    I don't know the rules all along the coast, but remember a year or so ago, someone had built a house right down to the beach, without permission (which he wouldn't have got) and had blocked the public path across the rocks. It was an incredible house, very expensive, and after several court cases, which the local council won, it was knocked down.

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  10. When I visted Cassis a few years ago, we initially laid in the "public" area. The beaches are often made of pebbles rather than sand, so it's not very comfortable! We got out our wallets and paid 9 euro for a very comfortable loungechair and umbrella. It was wonderful and well worth it! And, anyone can still walk anywhere they want on the beach ... having the nice cushions for my bum was great, though! :)

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