France · Pyrenees-Atlantics
La Madrague (Chiberta)
Pyrenees-Atlantics, 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 | 23.7 | 1.2 |
| Thu 3 | 23.7 | 0.6 |
| Fri 4 | 23.9 | 0.7 |
| Sat 5 | 23.9 | 1.3 |
| Sun 6 | 23.7 | 1.5 |
| Mon 7 | 23.9 | 1.2 |
| Tue 8 | 23.8 | 1.2 |
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 | 17 |
| May | 20 |
| Jun | 22 |
| Jul | 24 |
| Aug | 24 |
| Sep | 24 |
| Oct | 22 |
| Nov | 20 |
| Dec | 18 |
Location & nearby beaches
Nearby beaches
- Les Corsaires325 mPyrenees-Atlantics
- L'Ocean773 mPyrenees-Atlantics
- Marinella785 mPyrenees-Atlantics
- Les Sables D'Or1.1 kmPyrenees-Atlantics
Distances calculated as straight-line (haversine) from official coordinates.
Getting there & around
- Easy by car — there's parking close to the beach.
- Bus stop: La Madrague, about ~580 m away.
Food, stays & town
- Nearest town: Biarritz, about ~3.6 km away.
- 5 places to eat within 1 km Closest is L'Arrantza, about ~240 m away.
- 1 place to stay mapped nearby Closest is Hôtel Arguia, about ~820 m away.
What kind of beach is this?
This beach belongs to a small coastal village. It's usually calmer than a resort or town beach, though a popular village spot can still fill up on the best summer days.
Estimated from OpenStreetMap surroundings data (ODbL).
- Families
- Naturist
Is the water clean at La Madrague (Chiberta)?
La Madrague (Chiberta) 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 Lifeguard, Sandy shore, and Toilets. You can park about ~280 m away.
That rating has been consistent: every one of the 11 classified seasons on record has come back Excellent or Good. If you're timing a visit around water temperature rather than crowds, July–September is the safest bet, with August typically the peak — expect a cooler, calmer sea either side of that stretch. Biarritz — the closest town — sits about ~3.6 km from here.
That “Excellent” label comes from a full season of official water sampling, not a single test — it's one step on a four-point scale (Excellent, Good, Sufficient, Poor) reassessed once a year. Today's actual conditions can differ from the seasonal average, so for a live snapshot see the “Right now” and 7-day outlook panels above. It's been a consistently reliable spot too — the rating has held at Excellent for 11 straight years. There are 5 places to eat within a kilometre — L'Arrantza is the closest, about ~240 m away.
Frequently asked questions
Is La Madrague (Chiberta) a safe beach for swimming?
Generally, yes. La Madrague (Chiberta)'s 2025 EU Bathing Water rating is Excellent — the highest tier — backed by 11 of 11 classified seasons rated Excellent or Good. It's also held steady at Excellent for 11 straight years.
How cold or warm is the water at La Madrague (Chiberta) today?
As of the latest update, the sea temperature at La Madrague (Chiberta) is around 24°C — see the “Right now” panel above for live conditions. That's the reading right off Pyrenees-Atlantics.
Which month has the warmest sea at La Madrague (Chiberta)?
July–September tends to be the sweet spot for swimming here, with sea temperatures usually peaking later in that stretch. That applies to the water around Pyrenees-Atlantics.
What's behind the water quality rating shown above?
National authorities sample the water for intestinal enterococci and E. coli bacteria through the bathing season and report the full-season results to the European Environment Agency each spring for the season just finished, which assigns one of four annual classifications — Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor — under the EU Bathing Water Directive. Some national authorities, including Croatia's IZOR, also publish individual in-season sample results ahead of that annual report.
Can you drive to La Madrague (Chiberta)?
By car, it's easy — parking is right by the beach. By bus, the nearest stop is La Madrague, about ~580 m away. The nearest town is Biarritz, about ~3.6 km away.