Plage de Piémanson (Arles)

Plage de Piémanson is a wild sandy beach on the Camargue coast near the mouth of the Grand Rhône, in the commune of Arles, about 45 km from the city centre. It suits visitors who want a wide, undeveloped Mediterranean beach, birdwatchers and naturists, who have an official zone at its eastern end. Locals also call it the Plage de Salin-de-Giraud.

12 km past Salin-de-Giraud on Arles's coast

Arles is the largest commune in mainland France and includes much of the Camargue, so it has its own stretch of coast. Piémanson lies at the end of a paved road of about 12 km beyond the village of Salin-de-Giraud, which is itself about 38 km from Arles. The Arles tourist office describes 28 km of undeveloped beaches on this coast, including Beauduc, about 12 km west.

Naturist zone at the eastern end since 1982

The eastern end of the beach has been an official naturist zone since a municipal order of 23 June 1982. The rest is an ordinary public beach.

Salt marsh viewpoint and the 29 km cycle route

The road passes Salin-de-Giraud, a village known for rows of workers' housing built for the salt industry. About 2 km before the dunes, a viewpoint looks over the salt marshes and the white piles of harvested salt. The Arles tourist office publishes a 29 km cycle circuit of flamingos and salt from Salin-de-Giraud, which can be extended to the beach; its track becomes impassable after rain. Spring and autumn suit walks and birdwatching in the surrounding wetlands.

Lead rules and the dog ban by the swimming zone

Dogs must be on a lead in the car park and on the back-beach area. On the sand they are allowed everywhere except the supervised swimming zone, where they are banned, and the tourist office lists an extra charge for animals.