Like every year, the Brittany Regional Health Agency (ARS) has just delivered the results of its vast bathing water health control campaign. And if the vast majority of sites have impeccable water quality, certain beaches are strongly not recommended for swimmers.
This control, carried out for almost fifty years, “mainly concerns the bacteriological quality of water (…): Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci”. This type of fecal bacteria can be present on other beaches throughout France. ARS Brittany ensures “the health control of nearly 600 bathing areas identified on the coast and inland water bodies of the gentle region”supplemented for water by “additional monitoring of potentially toxic microalgae – cyanobacteria – and their toxins”. The analysis, shared in a press release on May 29, focused on “nearly 6,400 water samples and microbiological analyses”.
The results are mostly encouraging: “Among the 589 bathing sites controlled in 2025 in Brittany, 98% comply with the quality requirements set by European regulations: the waters are classified as excellent quality (79.8% of sites), good (14.8%) or sufficient (3.7%). 10 sites are classified as insufficient quality (1.7%).” Finistère concentrates six.
LThe ten beaches to avoid because the water quality is not good enough are:
- the Bay of the Virgin-Pont Roux (Ploulec’h, Côtes d’Armor),
- Les Quatre Vaux in St-Cast (Saint-Cast le Guildo, Côtes d’Armor),
- Toul an Touch (Plougoulm, Finistère),
- Dibennou (Guisseny, Finistère),
- Postollonec (Crozon, Finistère),
- Penfoul (Landunvez, Finistère),
- Porzou (Concarneau, Finistère),
- Scluz (Plounéour-Brignogan beaches),
- Good Help (Saint-Malo, Ille-et-Vilaine)
- Rochebonne (Saint-Malo, Ille-et-Vilaine)
According to the ARS, “the infectious risk associated with swimming mainly results in gastroenteritis, otitis, rhinitis and dermatitis”. Stomach aches, skin or throat irritations are all signals to watch out for, and increased vigilance is necessary to “children, pregnant women, the elderly and immunocompromised people”. If in doubt, consult the Baignades.sante.gouv website for know in real time the water quality of your vacation spot or give up swimming.
Five beaches also remain permanently prohibited for swimming for health reasons: Croix and Barrachou (Guisseny), Lerret (Kerlouan), Moulin de la Rive (Locquirec) and Valais (Saint-Brieuc). Finally, the ARS emphasizes that on bathing sites, “the major risk remains drowning” before contamination by fecal bacteria. In 2025, 1,400 drownings took place in France. 30% were fatal. These figures are increasing year after year.
