Apart from the words bonjour, croissant and rosé, another essential French word to know during the summer holidays in the South of France is ‘méduse‘. This is the dreaded purple jellyfish that can ruin a swim in the Mediterranean in seconds with its painful sting! The good news is that much is being done to provide swimmers with jellyfish-free zones.
Jellyfish (or Sea Nettles) float with the current and can appear during any season (but we wish they stayed away during the summer).
Anti-Jellyfish Nets on the French Riviera
You’ll find anti-jellyfish nets at several beaches along the Côte d’Azur from Cannes to Menton, providing safer swimming zones. Some of our favourites are at:
- Plage Mala (Cap d’Ail),
- Golfe Juan,
- Plage Keller (La Garoupe beach on Cap d’Antibes), and
- Cagnes-sur-Mer (which has a 125-metre long net!). The ‘sea pool‘ was inaugurated last year and was such a success it’s back again until 15 September 2025. You’ll find it near the Cros-de-Cagnes port.
Please note: there’s still a very small chance that a jellyfish gets through the net so if you hear anyone shout ‘méduse’, head for the shore!
According to the Antibes Juan-les-Pins council, they are using “all possible means” to prevent jellyfish arriving “and should they appear, they are rapidly removed”.
How to Avoid Jellyfish Stings
- Look out for a lifeguard board at the beach, and it should be noted there if jellyfish are present on that particular day.
- Don’t ever touch a jellyfish. Apparently their tentacles can still sting, even when dead.
- Check the Meduseo website before heading to the beach:
https://meduseo.com/v2/en/ – enter the town’s name where you’re staying, and you’ll be able to see latest jellyfish reports for that city’s beaches.
How to Treat a Sting from a Méduse
- Rinse the area with sea water “without rubbing” according to the Antibes council. They say do not rinse in fresh water.
- If you can see the strands from the jellyfish, remove them gently with tweezers.
- NEVER rub the sting, advises the Antibes council. (Although a local pharmacist says you can gently rub it with beach sand, and then wipe if off with the edge of your bank card.)
- Many locals recommend always taking vinegar with you to pour onto a sting.
- Visit a pharmacist – they will usually give you two types of cream (one lavender) and tablets to take to prevent infection.
- If you don’t feel well, please see a lifeguard immediately. They are usually on duty from 9am to 7pm.
