Plage du Blauelsand

A gravel pit by the Rhine

The Blauelsand beach occupies a former gravel pit filled with fresh water, in the Robertsau district of Strasbourg, just a few minutes from the Palais de l'Europe. The pond bordering it offers clear water, quite different from seaside beaches, and the site is home to real biodiversity (ducks, dense vegetation) that gives the place an unexpectedly wild feel right in the middle of the city.

Authorized by municipal decree since 1989, it's managed by the Association Naturiste de Sauvegarde et d'Animation du Blauelsand (ANSAB), affiliated with the Fédération Française de Naturisme. So this isn't some improvised spot but an official naturist area, maintained and supervised by an association.

Access and parking

You get there via quai Jacoutot or route du Glaserswoerth, heading toward the port aux Pétroles. A designated parking area lets you drive there, but cycling remains a very practical option: a path runs along the Rhine for about 2 km and easily connects to the site from downtown Strasbourg.

Access is free year round and entirely gratis, which partly explains the site's significant popularity, estimated at around 50,000 visitors a year according to the city hall.

What you'll find on site

The site is equipped for a full day without having to go elsewhere for anything.

• Showers
• Tables and benches
• Ping pong table
• Boules court
• Parking
• Designated bike access

Visitors all year round

Unlike many naturist beaches that only come alive in summer, Blauelsand welcomes people all year long. Swimming happens mostly in the warm season, but some regulars also come in winter for cold plunges, a fairly common practice among the site's regular naturists.

The crowd is varied: couples, families with children, longtime naturists who keep coming back. The overall atmosphere is described as calm and welcoming, far from the buzz you might find on some more touristy naturist beaches.

What visitors say

Feedback mostly highlights the tranquility of the setting and the quality of the association's management, which has been maintaining the site seriously for over thirty years. The natural side, with the fresh water and the gravel pit's biodiversity, comes up often in comments, with some even comparing the place favorably to more famous beaches in the south of France.

A few visitors would like a more visible police presence to reinforce the feeling of safety, but the overall atmosphere is still described as peaceful and family friendly, perfect for spending the day without a second thought.