River Swims & Beaches near Nîmes

The protected banks of the Gardon river at the foot of the Pont du Gard, with shaded pebble beaches on the left bank reached by a 15-minute walk from the main entrance. The official site regulations allow dogs on lead on the banks and dogs free in the water; a 30-metre swim exclusion zone is enforced upstream and downstream of the bridge piers because of the suction risk. Strong currents after heavy rain or wind; check before swimming.

An 18 km wild dune-backed beach at the western edge of the Camargue, classified Natura 2000 and one of the longest natural beach strands in France. Municipal rules of Le Grau-du-Roi allow dogs on lead year-round on the unsupervised western stretch beyond the main car park (Parking de l'Espiguette nord-ouest); the central supervised swim zone bans dogs from June to September.

The 25 km wild Camargue beach east of the Grand Rhône mouth, 1 hour south of Nîmes via Arles. The Arles tourism office confirms dogs are tolerated on lead on the beach, but banned from the supervised summer swim zone marked by buoys (June to September). Outside the swim zone and off-season, the entire strand is open to dogs on lead, with the Camargue salt flats behind.