Le Plat Gousset, Sand beach in Granville, Normandy, France

Le Plat Gousset is a sandy beach in the heart of Granville, in Normandy, sitting just below the old city walls. A stone promenade runs along its length, offering an open view of the sea and the surrounding coastline.

The beach was long used by local fishermen as a working shore before Granville grew into a seaside destination. The construction of the casino in 1911 marked a turning point, bringing a new wave of summer visitors to the waterfront.

The beach sits beside the Granville casino, a building from 1911 listed as a historic monument, which gives the seafront a distinctive old-fashioned character. At low tide, small rock pools appear along the shore and draw children looking for shells and tiny sea creatures.

The beach is easy to reach on foot from central Granville, though parking nearby is limited and often paid. In summer, lifeguards are present, and toilets and showers are available for visitors.

The pool is a tidal basin at the foot of the Roches de Granville, and the diving board above it is a fixed concrete platform rather than a springboard. Bathers time their jumps to the rising tide, when the basin fills and the water is deep enough to enter safely.