« France vue sur mer » (UK - France sea view)
Mobilising local and regional authorities to promote the coastal footpath
July 2023
The aim of the ‘France vue sur mer’ initiative is to improve the quality and attractiveness of the coastal footpath by increasing the resources devoted to the creation of sections of footpath and to restoration work. This project, which was launched as part of the stimulus package, has been a resounding success and has been reinforced as part of the ‘Tourism Plan - Destination France’ with an additional €15 million and a 3-year extension.
One ambition: to highlight, complete and renovate the coastal path and its cultural, heritage and landscape environment.
Open only to pedestrians, and now more than 6,000 km long, the coastal footpath gives every citizen free access to coastal landscapes, which represent essential areas of freedom. They are also an important vector of attraction for the communities concerned.
The ‘France vue sur mer’ initiative has one ambition: to substantially increase the resources devoted to operations by speeding up the creation of sections of path, reducing discontinuities and helping to restore maritime cultural heritage and landscape areas where they are degraded and very unsafe. These enhancement initiatives will also improve the quality and attractiveness of the area.
It also aims to give the trail a national identity that can be adapted and appropriated at local level for the benefit of the regions concerned.
Thanks to this initiative, 1,000 km should be opened up over the next few years.
A method: mobilising all stakeholders around the initiative
The ‘France vue sur mer’ initiative is a unifying force, and its success depends on the mobilisation of all stakeholders: the State and its departments, but also local authorities and citizens.
The challenge is simple: to continue strengthening the links between municipalities, départements, regions and government departments in conjunction with its operators. To achieve this, the flexible governance arrangements put in place at all levels will be maintained to ensure effective partnerships and coordinated action. Particular attention will continue to be paid to actions proposed by elected representatives, especially the mayors of small towns.
In this context, Cerema, which works every day to support local authorities in implementing public policies, has been chosen by the Government to lead the operation.
At the same time, citizens and civil society are invited to take up these issues by organising local events.
Nearly 100 projects selected
The ‘France vue sur mer’ call for projects is now well known and recognised in mainland France and the French overseas territories, with winners from virtually every coastline and outermost region. It is helping to consolidate France’s position as a sustainable tourist destination and is confirming a coordinated coastal policy between the State and local authorities, while meeting a strong collective expectation.
