French Atlantic Coast Tourism Reopens After Wildfires

After the catastrophic forest fires that swept the French Atlantic coast, the tourism ministry, the Atout France tourism board and the Gironde department announced that beaches, campsites, holiday quarters, airports and train stations are fully operational and that water and air quality have returned to normal. Access to areas directly affected by the fires remains restricted because of the danger of falling trees, but most recreational activities, water‑sports centres and cycling routes are open again.

The regional tourism office and the Bordeaux city tourism bureau are urging foreign visitors, especially German tourists, to resume travel, providing up‑to‑date information in English online. Meanwhile, French fire services continue to combat fires elsewhere, and the interior minister Laurent Nuñez reported that 402 people have been detained this year on suspicion of deliberately or negligently starting fires, including 156 minors.