The Painful Pleasure of Nice’s Beach

 

The French Riviera! Glitz, glam, and sandy beaches!

Well…yes and no.

Every summer, without fail, first-time visitors to Nice’s main beach along the famous Promenade des Anglais can be spotted taking their first tentative steps across the pebbles. Barefoot and cautious, they wobble and wince as they make their way to the water’s edge before finally easing themselves into the warm, crystal-blue Mediterranean Sea.

It’s both endearing and amusing to watch — not only for locals but often for the visitors themselves. Many laugh at their own struggle, snapping photos as they shuffle toward their sunbathing spot or hobble back from a swim. It’s a rite of passage of sorts, part of the authentic Nice beach experience.

For locals, however, it’s second nature. Most of us hardly notice the pebbles anymore. We’ve grown up with them, and walking barefoot on the smooth stones feels perfectly normal — a small price for a raw, natural connection to our coastline.

But why pebbles instead of sand?

In Nice, these characteristic stones are more than just a quirky feature — they’re essential to the beach’s survival. Carefully selected and regularly replenished, the pebbles protect the shoreline from erosion and storms, helping the beach maintain its shape. Without them, the Baie des Anges would be a narrow strip, easily washed away by the sea.

Historically, this stretch of coast was used by fishermen long before beach tourism took hold. Today, the City of Nice continues to preserve its balance through an impressive annual operation. Each winter, excavators and trucks deliver thousands of cubic meters of locally sourced pebbles — primarily from the Paillon and Var rivers — to replace those carried away by the waves.

The process is precise: only stones between 20 and 80 millimeters are used. “If they’re too small, they float away; too large, and they become a nuisance,” explains Julien Larraun, hydraulic studies officer at Nice City Hall. Since 1960, this replenishment has been a yearly tradition, ensuring both comfort and coastal protection.

Without these stones, the sea would gradually reclaim the beach, pushing dangerously close to the Promenade des Anglais — as it once did before World War II. That’s why removing pebbles is strictly forbidden. Each one is considered public property, and taking even a single souvenir stone can result in a €38 fine.

For those not yet used to the unique terrain, nearby shops along the Promenade sell rubber bathing shoes in every color and style — a small investment for a big improvement in comfort.

In the end, the pebbly beaches of Nice offer more than just a swim — they provide a memorable, authentic encounter with the Riviera’s natural character. And no matter how many first-timers tiptoe across the stones each summer, they always seem to come back for more.