The French resort towns showcase fines for people found to be walking anywhere except the beach in topless or swimsuits.
Authorities at Les Sabs Darrons, in the Wende region of France’s Atlantic coast, have announced a fine of up to 150 euros ($175) for people walking in the “semi-naked” town, according to a Facebook post released Tuesday by Mayor Yannick Moreau.
The railing against topless men, Moreau criticized “indecent behaviour.”
“It’s a matter of respecting locals who don’t want people to wander half naked around their town,” he wrote.
“This is also the basic hygiene rules in the market, our shops and the streets,” added Moreau.
“If you want to show off the best swimming shorts from Baek and Les Sabls, then you have 11 kilometres of beaches at your freedom,” he said.
Moreau’s post was accompanied by the image of a poster announcing the fine, with the catchphrase “In Les Sables D’Olonne, respect doesn’t go on holidays.”
The move appears to be well received, with many Facebook users leaving positive comments under the mayor’s post.
“Thank you Mayor. I don’t think this is completely unbearable,” writes Dominic Kamio Martial.
Claire Goulauen added:
However, some suggest that there are times when we worry about things more important, such as dealing with crime.
Les Sables D’Olonne is the latest in a series of French towns that are cracking down on what is considered rude behavior.
At Alcacon, another popular holiday spot on the West Coast, authorities also introduced a fine of 150 euros for those who undress and walk around town.
In the south of the country, the town of La Grande Motte introduced a fine of 150 euros for dresses that were scarce on any part of the town except the beach and its coastal promenade.
And France isn’t the only one trying to improve visitor behavior.
In 2023, authorities in the Spanish city of Malaga announced that people on the streets, without clothing or wearing public spaces without clothes, or who wear only underwear will face fines of up to 750 euros ($874).
And last September, City Hall posted a sign aimed at educating tourists about appropriate behavior during their visit.
