France · Bouches-du-Rhône
Grande Mer
Bouches-du-Rhône, France
On the beach
Right now
Live conditions from Open-Meteo, refreshed hourly.
7-day outlook
7-day marine forecast from Open-Meteo.
Sea temperature
Next 7 days, °C
Wave height
Next 7 days, metres
View as table
| Day | Sea temp (°C) | Wave height (m) |
|---|---|---|
| Wed 2 | 25.4 | 0.4 |
| Thu 3 | 25.2 | 0.5 |
| Fri 4 | 25.7 | 0.3 |
| Sat 5 | 25.3 | 0.6 |
| Sun 6 | 25.4 | 0.5 |
| Mon 7 | 26.2 | 0.2 |
| Tue 8 | 25.6 | 0.1 |
Water quality history
Official EEA classification, one rating per bathing season, 2015–2025 — real data reported by national authorities.
- 2015: Excellent2015
- 2016: Excellent2016
- 2017: Excellent2017
- 2018: Excellent2018
- 2019: Excellent2019
- 2020: Excellent2020
- 2021: Excellent2021
- 2022: Excellent2022
- 2023: Excellent2023
- 2024: Excellent2024
- 2025: Excellent2025
Excellent in the most recent season, and 11 of 11 classified years rated Excellent or Good.
- Excellent
- Good
- Sufficient
- Poor
- Not classified
View as table
| Year | Classification |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Excellent |
| 2016 | Excellent |
| 2017 | Excellent |
| 2018 | Excellent |
| 2019 | Excellent |
| 2020 | Excellent |
| 2021 | Excellent |
| 2022 | Excellent |
| 2023 | Excellent |
| 2024 | Excellent |
| 2025 | Excellent |
Typical sea temperature by month
Modeled estimatePlausible seasonal climatology derived from latitude, for illustration — not a measured average.
Monthly sea temperature
Typical range across the year, °C
View as table
| Month | Typical sea temp (°C) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 16 |
| Feb | 15 |
| Mar | 16 |
| Apr | 18 |
| May | 20 |
| Jun | 23 |
| Jul | 25 |
| Aug | 26 |
| Sep | 25 |
| Oct | 23 |
| Nov | 20 |
| Dec | 18 |
Location & nearby beaches
Nearby beaches
- Bestouan480 mBouches-du-Rhône
- Corton686 mBouches-du-Rhône
- Anse de L'Arene1.0 kmBouches-du-Rhône
- Port Pin2.3 kmBouches-du-Rhône
Distances calculated as straight-line (haversine) from official coordinates.
Getting there & around
- Easy by car — there's parking close to the beach.
- Bus stop: Viguerie, about ~330 m away.
Food, stays & town
- Nearest village: Cassis, about ~300 m away.
- 67 places to eat within 1 km Closest is Le Comptoir de la Plage, about ~50 m away.
- 11 places to stay mapped nearby Closest is Hôtel Liautaud, about ~180 m away.
- 5 shops nearby, the closest about ~200 m away
What kind of beach is this?
This beach sits in a built-up resort setting, with hotels, restaurants and services clustered around it — a full-service stretch of coast that tends to be busy in peak season and quieter outside it.
Estimated from OpenStreetMap surroundings data (ODbL).
- Water sports
- Full-service days
Is the water clean at Grande Mer?
Grande Mer is a coastal bathing site with an official EU Bathing Water rating of Excellent for the 2025 season — the highest official classification under the EU bathing-water assessment. That annual classification comes from the EU Bathing Water Directive: national authorities test for two indicator bacteria, intestinal enterococci and E. coli, throughout the bathing season, then report the full-season results to the European Environment Agency (EEA) the following spring — the 2025 season's rating was published in spring 2026, and the 2026 season won't be rated until spring 2027. In addition to that yearly rating, some national authorities — for Croatia, the national environmental authority — publish individual water sample results during the season itself, ahead of the annual report. On site you'll find Pebble shore, Toilets, and Beach bar. There's parking about ~120 m from the beach.
Looking to avoid the busiest weeks? The water is typically warmest around August, with the most reliable swimming window running July–September; outside that stretch you'll find a cooler sea but a quieter beach. That rating has been consistent: every one of the 11 classified seasons on record has come back Excellent or Good. The nearest town, Cassis, is about ~300 m away.
Worth remembering: “Excellent” isn't a live reading, it's an annual grade — Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor — set once a year from that season's water samples and describing the average, not this afternoon's conditions. For what the sea is doing right now, check the “Right now” panel and 7-day outlook above. It sits in Bouches-du-Rhône. There are 67 places to eat within a kilometre — Le Comptoir de la Plage is the closest, about ~50 m away.
Frequently asked questions
Is Grande Mer safe to swim in?
Yes — Grande Mer carries the top EU Bathing Water classification, Excellent, for 2025, and 11 of its 11 classified seasons have rated Excellent or Good. It's also held steady at Excellent for 11 straight years.
What's the current water temperature at Grande Mer?
The latest reading puts the sea at Grande Mer at around 25°C — the “Right now” panel above has the full live picture. That's the reading right off Bouches-du-Rhône. On the modeled climatology here, August usually runs warmest.
When is the best time to swim at Grande Mer?
If you're planning around water temperature, July–September is the window to target — the modeled sea temperature is typically highest then. That applies to the water around Bouches-du-Rhône. Within that window, August is typically the single warmest month.
Who measures the water quality rating, and how?
Behind the annual grade: a season of testing for intestinal enterococci and E. coli, reported to the European Environment Agency each spring under the EU Bathing Water Directive. A few countries, Croatia via IZOR included, also publish individual in-season samples ahead of that report, but Grande Mer doesn't have one published yet.
What's nearby Grande Mer — parking, buses, or a ferry?
By car, it's easy — parking is right by the beach. By bus, the nearest stop is Viguerie, about ~330 m away. The nearest town is Cassis, about ~300 m away.