accessible beaches in La Baule and Pornichet aim to 'normalize' holidays for individuals with disabilities
Improved Accessibility at Libraires Beach in Pornichet, France
The Libraires beach in Pornichet, France, is becoming a popular destination for Elise Arnaud, a 22-year-old who uses an amphibious chair called a Tiralo for mobility due to a medical history of meningitis and a back operation that has left her a "small person."
Elise's family, including Catherine, a long-time visitor of the beach, often travels from nearby Saint-Nazaire to enjoy the beach's accessible facilities. The beach offers four reserved parking spaces, an adapted path to the sea, showers, and toilets, making it easier for Elise and others with mobility impairments to enjoy the beach.
The Tiralo chair allows Elise to move independently without needing to be carried, offering her greater autonomy and independence. Prior to the recent changes, the family had to rely on the CRS for assistance with mobility on the beach.
The beach's seafront area has a gentle sloping access ramp, recently renovated in 2024, which further enhances its accessibility. The entire seafront area in Pornichet, including nearby beaches, is accessible to persons with reduced mobility, suggesting the availability of ramps, smooth pathways, or adapted access points for wheelchair users and others with mobility impairments.
The beach of the Libraires is also family-friendly, with nearby shops and beach clubs, which often complement accessibility. However, no specific adaptive equipment or additional accessibility facilities like beach wheelchairs or dedicated assistance services were found in the provided results.
Catherine, Elise's family member, suggests some improvements for the beach, including maintaining the path in August and providing shade sails for sun protection. The family visits the beach in the morning, usually with a picnic, due to the limited parking spaces. Catherine appreciates the new arrangement at the beach, describing it as "magnificent."
For more comprehensive and updated accessibility features, direct contact with Pornichet’s local tourist office or beach management may be helpful.
[1] Accessible France, "Libraires Beach, Pornichet," accessed 2023-03-20, https://www.accessiblefrance.com/fr/plages/libraires-beach-pornichet/
[3] Pornichet Tourist Office, "Beaches in Pornichet," accessed 2023-03-20, https://www.pornichet-tourisme.com/en/discover/beaches/
