Plage de l'Huveaune

Plage de l'Huveaune is a beach on the Prado seafront in Marseille's 8th arrondissement, on the Avenue Pierre Mendès France beside the copy of Michelangelo's David at the Prado roundabout. It is best known as the city's main surf and windsurf spot, and locals call it the Plage des Épluchures. Swimming was banned there for the whole 2026 summer season because of poor water quality.

Water quality and the 2026 bathing ban

The beach takes its name from the Huveaune, the small river that reaches the sea right beside it, and the river mouth causes recurring pollution, especially after heavy rain. In 2026 the State declared the beach unfit for bathing for the whole summer season. The City of Marseille, which runs its own water testing, disagreed with the closure. Before going in the water, check the city's beach pages and the notices posted on site. The supervised swimming areas at Plage Borély and the David zone are close by.

Autumn to spring swells for surfers

When the wind blows, surfers and windsurfers fill the beach. The best swells come between autumn and spring, when local surfers ride fairly strong waves; on good days after a storm, dozens of surfers wait in the line-up. Beginners should come on smaller days.

Prado beaches, Borély park and seafront cycle paths

The Prado beaches run south from here, near the Borély racecourse, with parks behind the sand and seafront cycle paths in both directions. Plage Borély is about 300 m away, and the Château Borély and its park about 600 m. The David statue roundabout is a five-minute walk.