Boat and walk
Take the boat to Lotu and walk about an hour to Saleccia.
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Saleccia Beach, Agriates, Corsica
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One of 178 Things to Do in France
In short
Saleccia is a remote 1.2-km curve of white sand in Corsica's Désert des Agriates, with no road in, and it stood in for the D-Day beaches in the 1961 film The Longest Day. The beach is free, but the boats and 4x4 trips that reach it are paid, and the last boat back sets your day. Plan a full day.
Saleccia is a remote white-sand beach on the north coast of Corsica, in the Désert des Agriates west of Saint-Florent in Haute-Corse. It has no road access and is reached by boat, a 4x4 track or on foot, which keeps it among the least developed beaches on the island. It suits walkers, boat day-trippers and anyone looking for a full day on an unspoilt shore.
White sand, dunes and the Liscu river
About 1 km of fine white sand is backed by dunes and a pine wood, with turquoise water in front. The small Liscu river reaches the sea at the western end. The Agriates is a region of low hills and maquis, and the land behind the beach belongs to the Conservatoire du littoral, the public body that protects France's coastline.
Resistance arms and The Longest Day
In July and August 1943 the submarine Casabianca landed about 13 tonnes of weapons on this coast for the Corsican Resistance. In 1961 producers chose the beach to stand in for Normandy in The Longest Day, because the coast had no modern buildings to hide.
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Key information
🏖️Type: Remote white-sand beach backed by dunes and pines
📏Length: About 1 km
🚫No road: Reached only by boat, 4x4 track or on foot
🎬Film: Used for D-Day scenes in The Longest Day (1961)
🌵Area: Désert des Agriates, protected natural area
🕕Time Zone: Central European Time (UTC+1; UTC+2 in summer)
Explore the area
Plage du Lotu about 1 hour on foot
Saint-Florent 18 km by coastal path
Casta (start of 4x4 track) 12 km
Cap Corse 25 km
Bastia 40 km
✦
Plan your visit to Saleccia Beach, Agriates, Corsica
Dates, opening hours and how to get there are below. Booking ahead secures your preferred day.
Highlights Include:
Beach
- Fine white sand
- Turquoise water
- Dunes and pine wood
Getting there
- Boat from Saint-Florent
- Walk from Lotu
- 4x4 track from Casta
Nature
- Untouched coast of the Agriates
What They Offer
Boats
Boats from Saint-Florent (seasonal, weather permitting)
Campsite
Basic campsite 300 m from the beach
Restaurants
Two small summer restaurants
Visit duration
A full day
Timed entry required No
4x4 track
A rough 12 km track from Casta, for proper 4x4s only.
Coastal hike
Walk 18 km from Saint-Florent on the customs path.
Accessibility
Remote and unpaved; not accessible.
Age limits
None. Children must be supervised in the water: there are no lifeguards unless signed.
What to pack
Lots of water, food, sun protection, rubbish bag; water, food and sun protection: shade is limited to the pines
What to wear
Hiking shoes for the paths, swimwear
Not allowed
Taking sand, leaving marked paths through the dunes, littering, fires
Amenities
Basic only: a simple campsite about 300 m from the sea (no mains electricity or drinking water) and two summer restaurants; no lifeguards.
Tips for visiting Saleccia Beach, Agriates, Corsica
- Bring at least two litres of water per person and a sun hat.
- Wear proper walking shoes if you hike from Plage du Lotu.
- Check the last boat time back to Saint-Florent before you settle in.
- Do not drive the Casta track in an ordinary car.
- Stay on marked paths to protect the dunes.
Driving
No road; a rough 12 km track from Casta, off the D81, suits only proper 4x4 vehicles or mountain bikes. Parking in Saint-Florent is charged from May to October.
Public transportation
Summer boats from Saint-Florent (about 25 minutes) run directly to Saleccia or to the Plage du Lotu, where most land; from Lotu a 2.5 km path leads west, about an hour on foot. No pontoon; crossings stop in bad weather. Hikers can follow the coastal path from Saint-Florent, about 18 km.
Address
Saleccia Beach lies on the coast of the Désert des Agriates, west of Saint-Florent. Cap Corse is about 25 km away and Bastia 40 km.
Opening Hours
- MondayOpen 24 hours
- TuesdayOpen 24 hours
- WednesdayOpen 24 hours
- ThursdayOpen 24 hours
- FridayOpen 24 hours
- SaturdayOpen 24 hours
- SundayOpen 24 hours
Boats run seasonally; crossings stop in poor weather.
Public beach, freely accessible at any time. For most visitors the boat timetable sets the day: plan to catch the last boat back.
Special events
No regular events on record.
Best times to visit
Morning.
Best days to visit
Weekdays.
Best months to visit
June and September.
Admission tickets
Entry is free.
Saleccia Beach: Free Access
Free beach; boats and 4x4 trips are paid.
- Free access to the public beach
Admission
Free entry: no ticket or booking is needed.
Visitor policy
Cancellation and prepayment
No booking needed.
Children and admission
Children are welcome; supervise them closely in the water.
Groups
No booking needed for groups; large gatherings should follow local rules.
Pets
No specific rule is published; keep pets leashed and away from other beachgoers and nesting areas.
Photography
Photography is welcome; respect other beachgoers' privacy. Drones need civil aviation approval.
Bags
No restrictions.
Smoking
Take cigarette ends and all litter home; no open fires outside designated areas.
Accepted payment
Free; no payment needed.
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Travelers are asking
Only by proper 4x4 on a rough 12 km track from Casta.
Only in the pines behind the dunes; bring an umbrella.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Answers based on published references.
Getting there
By boat from Saint-Florent, directly in about 25 minutes or to Plage du Lotu followed by a walk of about an hour. A rough track from Casta suits only 4x4 vehicles, and hikers can follow an 18 km coastal path.
Only with a proper 4x4 on the 12 km track from Casta. Ordinary cars cannot make it.
Stay & facilities
Two small restaurants open in summer, but there is no drinking water at the campsite. Bring plenty of water and snacks.
General
Yes. Scenes of the Normandy landings were shot here in 1961, because the coast had no concrete buildings to hide.
No. Saleccia has no lifeguards, and boat crossings stop when the weather turns bad.
Yes, at a basic campsite about 300 m from the sea, without mains electricity or drinking water.
The Conservatoire du littoral owns the land behind the beach.
The submarine Casabianca landed about 13 tonnes of weapons for the Corsican Resistance on this coast.
Saleccia Beach, Agriates, Corsica is in France. The street address and directions are under How to get there on this page.
Bags: No restrictions.
Prices & payment
No. You pay only for the boat crossing or 4x4 tour, and for parking in Saint-Florent from May to October.
Timing & weather
About 1 km.
A full day.
Saleccia Beach, Agriates, Corsica is open Monday–Sunday: Open 24 hours.
The best months to visit Saleccia Beach, Agriates, Corsica are June and September. The best days and times of day are covered under When to visit on this page.