Arene Grosse

22°C Water temp · Jun 8

France Coastal 4 - Poor 22°C

Satellite image of ARENE GROSSE — Satellite image © Esri

Arène Grosse is a natural sandy beach located on the Mediterranean Sea in the Boulouris district of Saint-Raphaël, in southeastern France. The beach measures 120 metres long and 15 metres wide, bordered by the Armitelle stream valley to the west and the Boulouris port to the east. The beach experiences low water renewal due to its closed cove configuration, and natural deposits of Posidonia seagrass are common in winter. The swimming zone covers approximately 2,800 square metres.

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Water

Mediterranean Sea. Beach area: 1,450 square metres. Swimming zone area: approximately 2,800 square metres. Beach length: 120 metres. Maximum beach width: 15 metres. Configuration: closed cove. Water currents near the shoreline are mostly weak, typically under 0.12 m/s, with maximum velocities of 0.4 m/s during storm conditions. Water renewal times vary with wind speed: approximately 2.5 hours at 2 m/s wind, 1.7 hours at 4 m/s wind, and 0.9 hours at 8 m/s wind.

Location

Saint-Raphaël, Boulouris district, in the Var department. Access via Route de la Corniche (RD 559). Free parking available on public roads. GPS coordinates: 43°24.510'N, 6°48.245'E.

Facilities

One shower with disabled access. One fixed toilet with disabled access. Free parking on public roads. Daily beach maintenance during summer season with screening equipment passing each morning before user arrival.

Water Quality

Water quality classified as insufficient in 2024, following reclassification from sufficient in 2023. Historical monitoring since 2006 recorded more than 30 bacterial contaminations. Quality has varied: excellent in 2018, good from 2020-2022, sufficient in 2023, and insufficient in 2024. Multiple pollution episodes occurred in 2023 during dry conditions and 2024 during particularly rainy weather. Monitoring point PSV 2754 is located at coordinates 43.414128, 6.806907.

Risks

The beach experiences recurring pollution from rainfall events, primarily from the Armitelle stream outlet. The Toukan pumping station can cause wastewater discharge during malfunction or heavy precipitation. The closed cove configuration causes weak water renewal and recirculation. Natural deposits of Posidonia seagrass are abundant in winter. Works on the wastewater network are planned to reduce pollution episodes.