The French Riviera has many beaches suited for people who may be less mobile or have hearing or sight disabilities.
While myself and my family are able-bodied, I am aware that there are tourists who may not have access to English information due to language barriers.
The beaches here in France are run under the name ‘Handiplage’, they are often supervised and have various facilities including amphibious chairs and adapted shower and toilet facilities. You can find more information at www.handiplage.fr however this website is in French only. There is a link at the bottom of the first page that provides maps of the Handiplage beaches in France.
Nearby to me, Antibes and Juan les Pins offer 2 Handiplage beaches (Ponteil and Salis) which is actually one long stretch of beach. This handiplage offers assistance for swimmers into the water via a ramp, and amphibious chairs. There is also ‘audioplage’ on offer which is a lighted sound device for visual or hearing-impaired swimmers.
Beach umbrellas, chairs and showers and toilets are provided. There are free carparking spaces reserved for holders of the European card in the nearby carpark. There is an accessible Envibus shuttle that runs from the Gare Routiere in Antibes (bus number 14) that serves this handiplage every 30 minutes, and the bus stop is right at the entrance to the carpark.
Note: This handiplage is open Monday-Saturday, 9.30am-6.30pm until September 15 however please note it is generally only staffed during the hours of 8.30am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-5pm Monday-Friday.
Access Riviera 