On the beach
Right now
Sample dataIllustrative conditions — the live Open-Meteo marine feed wasn't reachable, so these are deterministic placeholder values that will be replaced automatically once the feed is available.
7-day outlook
Sample dataModeled placeholder forecast for demonstration — will be replaced by a live marine-weather feed.
Sea temperature
Next 7 days, °C
Wave height
Next 7 days, metres
View as table
| Day | Sea temp (°C) | Wave height (m) |
|---|---|---|
| Wed 2 | 23.2 | 0.7 |
| Thu 3 | 22.8 | 0.7 |
| Fri 4 | 22.3 | 0.7 |
| Sat 5 | 22.0 | 0.7 |
| Sun 6 | 22.2 | 0.7 |
| Mon 7 | 22.7 | 0.7 |
| Tue 8 | 23.1 | 0.7 |
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: Good2018
- 2019: Good2019
- 2020: Good2020
- 2021: Good2021
- 2022: Excellent2022
- 2023: Good2023
- 2024: Good2024
- 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 | Good |
| 2019 | Good |
| 2020 | Good |
| 2021 | Good |
| 2022 | Excellent |
| 2023 | Good |
| 2024 | Good |
| 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 | 14 |
| Feb | 14 |
| Mar | 14 |
| Apr | 16 |
| May | 19 |
| Jun | 22 |
| Jul | 24 |
| Aug | 25 |
| Sep | 24 |
| Oct | 22 |
| Nov | 19 |
| Dec | 16 |
Location & nearby beaches
Nearby beaches
- La Warenne14 kmArdennes
- Etang Lamotte23 kmArdennes
- Nouvelle Baignade de Sedan32 kmArdennes
- Baignade34 kmArdennes
Distances calculated as straight-line (haversine) from official coordinates.
Getting there & around
- Easy by car — there's parking close to the beach.
Food, stays & town
- Nearest village: Les Vieilles Forges, about ~1.3 km away.
- 1 place to eat within 1 km Closest is Icrok Café, about ~120 m away.
- 1 place to stay mapped nearby Closest is Le Lac des Vieilles Forges, about ~260 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
Is the water clean at Les Vieilles Forges?
Thinking of swimming at Les Vieilles Forges? The short answer: its official EU Bathing Water rating for 2025 is Excellent — the highest official classification under the EU bathing-water assessment. That rating is set once a year under the EU Bathing Water Directive, from a full season of testing for intestinal enterococci and E. coli reported to the European Environment Agency the following spring, so the 2025 season's grade appeared in spring 2026 and the 2026 season won't be graded 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. Water quality here has been improving: the rating moved from Good to Excellent in 2025. You can park about ~130 m away.
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. On site you'll find Sandy shore, Toilets, and Kids' area. Les Vieilles Forges — the closest town — sits about ~1.3 km from here.
“Excellent” is one point on a four-step scale — Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor — assigned once per year from that season's water samples, not a live reading. It describes how the site performs on average across the season, not the exact water quality this afternoon; for day-to-day sea conditions, see the “Right now” and 7-day outlook panels above. There's 1 place to eat near the beach — Icrok Café, about ~120 m away.
Frequently asked questions
Is Les Vieilles Forges a safe beach for swimming?
Yes. Its official 2025 EU Bathing Water rating is Excellent, the top classification, and 11 of the 11 classified seasons on record have rated Excellent or Good. Its rating has also been trending the right way, moving from Good to Excellent in 2025.
How warm is the sea at Les Vieilles Forges right now?
That's placeholder data, not a live measurement: Les Vieilles Forges's marine-weather feed couldn't be reached, so the panel above is showing an estimated ~23°C until the real feed comes back. That's the reading right off Ardennes.
What's the best month to visit Les Vieilles Forges for swimming?
The most reliable stretch for warm water runs through July–September, based on the modeled climatology. That applies to the water around Ardennes.
What does the water quality rating actually measure?
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.
How do I get to Les Vieilles Forges without a car?
By car, it's easy — parking is right by the beach. The nearest town is Les Vieilles Forges, about ~1.3 km away.