France · Charente-Maritime
Plage de Foncillon
Charente-Maritime, 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 | 23.4 | 0.5 |
| Thu 3 | 23.8 | 0.4 |
| Fri 4 | 24.0 | 0.4 |
| Sat 5 | 24.4 | 0.6 |
| Sun 6 | 24.1 | 0.6 |
| Mon 7 | 24.0 | 0.7 |
| Tue 8 | 23.8 | 0.8 |
Water quality history
Official EEA classification, one rating per bathing season, 2015–2025 — real data reported by national authorities.
- 2015: Good2015
- 2016: Excellent2016
- 2017: Excellent2017
- 2018: Sufficient2018
- 2019: Sufficient2019
- 2020: Good2020
- 2021: Good2021
- 2022: Excellent2022
- 2023: Excellent2023
- 2024: Excellent2024
- 2025: Excellent2025
Excellent in the most recent season, and 9 of 11 classified years rated Excellent or Good.
- Excellent
- Good
- Sufficient
- Poor
- Not classified
View as table
| Year | Classification |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Good |
| 2016 | Excellent |
| 2017 | Excellent |
| 2018 | Sufficient |
| 2019 | Sufficient |
| 2020 | Good |
| 2021 | Good |
| 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 | 15 |
| Feb | 15 |
| Mar | 15 |
| Apr | 17 |
| May | 19 |
| Jun | 22 |
| Jul | 24 |
| Aug | 24 |
| Sep | 24 |
| Oct | 22 |
| Nov | 20 |
| Dec | 17 |
Location & nearby beaches
Nearby beaches
- Plage Du Chay718 mCharente-Maritime
- Plage Du Pigeonnier1.1 kmCharente-Maritime
- Plage de la Grande Conche1.4 kmCharente-Maritime
- Plage de Pontaillac1.8 kmCharente-Maritime
Distances calculated as straight-line (haversine) from official coordinates.
Getting there & around
- Easy by car — there's parking close to the beach.
- Bus stop: Bac, about ~150 m away.
- Ferry: Embarcadère de Royan, about ~260 m away.
Food, stays & town
- Nearest town: Royan, about ~700 m away.
- 76 places to eat within 1 km Closest is Le Parasol, about ~70 m away.
- 10 places to stay mapped nearby Closest is Hôtel Foncillon, about ~130 m away.
- 7 shops nearby, the closest about ~310 m away
What kind of beach is this?
This is a town beach, woven into the everyday fabric of a city or larger settlement — expect company on warm days, especially through July and August, alongside easy access to shops and services.
Estimated from OpenStreetMap surroundings data (ODbL).
- Families
Is the water clean at Plage de Foncillon?
Plage de Foncillon is a transitional 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 Sandy shore, Toilets, and Beach bar. There's parking about ~130 m from the beach.
Over the 11 classified seasons on record, 9 have come back Excellent or Good — a track record worth checking each year rather than assuming. The most reliable swimming window here typically runs from July–September, with the sea usually at its warmest around August. Outside that window the water is cooler and often quieter. It's been a consistently reliable spot too — the rating has held at Excellent for 4 straight years. The nearest town, Royan, is about ~700 m away.
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. There are 76 places to eat within a kilometre — Le Parasol is the closest, about ~70 m away.
Frequently asked questions
Should you swim at Plage de Foncillon?
Plage de Foncillon is rated Excellent for 2025 — the top EU Bathing Water classification — with 9 of 11 classified seasons rating Excellent or Good, so yes. It's also held steady at Excellent for 4 straight years.
What is the sea temperature at Plage de Foncillon today?
Plage de Foncillon's sea temperature currently sits at around 23°C, based on the latest update — check the “Right now” panel above for the full live picture. That's the reading right off Charente-Maritime. On the modeled climatology here, August usually runs warmest.
When is the best time to swim at Plage de Foncillon?
For the warmest water, aim for July–September — that's when the modeled sea temperature is typically at its best. That applies to the water around Charente-Maritime. 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 Plage de Foncillon doesn't have one published yet.
What's the easiest way to reach Plage de Foncillon?
By car, it's easy — parking is right by the beach. By bus, the nearest stop is Bac, about ~150 m away. By ferry, the nearest landing is Embarcadère de Royan, about ~260 m away. The nearest town is Royan, about ~700 m away.