Destinations labels

Green Destinations : Platinum Award

After initially achieving Silver certification in 2024, with a compliance rate of 77%, the destination reached 92% in 2026 and achieved Platinum certification, demonstrating strong momentum and a reinforced collective commitment.
This label, awarded by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, certifies the destination’s sustainable management in terms of governance, nature conservation, resource management, cultural preservation, social well-being and corporate commitment.

It offers a response to the challenges of climate change and encourages coordination between stakeholders to promote responsible tourism.

Communes with a welcoming spirit

The municipalities of Caen and Ouistreham are classified by the State as tourist resorts, and Colleville-Montgomery as a tourist municipality.

These distinctions highlight:

• The quality of the welcome and services offered,
• The quality and frequency of events organised,
• The quality and diversity of accommodation options

Blue Flag

The seaside resort of Colleville-Montgomery has been awarded Blue Flag status. It has held this status since 1992, and without interruption since 2012!

As part of this, the local council organises environmental awareness activities throughout the year, particularly during the summer season (exploring the foreshore, land art, beach clean-ups, one-off waste collection campaigns, etc.).

Colleville-Montgomery is one of three Blue Flag-accredited towns in Calvados, alongside Deauville and the port of Dives-Cabourg-Houlgate.

More information on the Blue Flag scheme: https://pavillonbleu.org/

Ouistreham Riva-Bella : Territoire vélo

‘Territoire Vélo’ is a scheme aimed at local authorities, awarded by the French Cycling Tourism Federation. The scheme recognises and promotes all initiatives relating to cycling, whether directly or indirectly linked to the sport:

• Infrastructure: cycle paths, improvements to junctions, etc.
• Facilities: cycle parking, foot-operated bike pumps, bike wash stations, etc.
• Service providers: bike hire and repair shops, cycling-friendly accommodation, etc.
• Tourism and events (in partnership with local clubs): events organised by the Federation’s clubs,
• the Fête du Vélo, other cycle tours, etc.
• Circular routes: starting from the town or villages within the local authority area, etc.
• Road safety and education: training courses, awareness-raising among young people, etc.

Handi-plage

The four beaches at Caen la Mer – Colleville-Montgomery, Hermanville-sur-Mer, Ouistreham and Lion-sur-Mer – have been awarded the ‘Handi-plage’ label. Level 1 of the label recognises efforts made to improve accessibility. The beaches now feature a range of adapted facilities:

• A ‘tiralo’, a floating wheelchair fitted with buoys that enables people with reduced mobility to enter the water and swim in complete safety, with the assistance of lifeguards.
• Beach wheelchairs, fitted with large wheels capable of moving across the sand.
• Access mats to make it easier to manoeuvre wheelchairs and pushchairs on the beach.

Territoires engagés pour la nature: in support of biodiversity

The “Territoires engagés pour la nature” programme aims to mobilise local authorities in support of biodiversity. It seeks to identify, recognise, develop and promote local action plans. The local level is best placed to address the challenges and specific characteristics of each area. The programme is run by the French Biodiversity Agency. The towns of Caen, Mondeville, Thaon, Bénouville, Ouistreham, Lion-sur-mer, Cormelles, Colombelles, Bretteville-sur-Odon and Démouville are taking part.

Caen Nordic

The city of Caen has launched its Caen Nordic label in order to strengthen its ties with the Nordic and Baltic countries by bringing together and promoting Nordic initiatives in the Caen area..