This bay has been voted the bluest water in Europe, so hurry and get there before it gets crowded.
Contrary to what you might think, summer isn't over yet! While the French coast may be looking gloomy, it's the perfect time to fully enjoy the end of summer by a lake, river, or sea where the temperature hasn't yet dropped. A study highlighted an 813% increase in Google searches for "clear water" over the last quarter, and had the brilliant idea of analyzing 100 of Europe's most beautiful bodies of water to identify the one with the most intense blue hue.
It's well known that France is home to countless breathtaking expanses of blue water, but it's not alone. The car rental experts at SIXT color-analyzed 100 high-definition photos of the continent's most beautiful lakes, beaches, and rivers to identify the bluest ones. Using the LAB color selection method (which is based on three components: L for brightness, A for the Red-Green axis, and B for the Yellow-Blue axis), they were able to determine the depth of blue in each location, ranking them from bluest to least blue. Topping the list is a beautiful bay on the Adriatic coast, yet to be overrun by tourists:
To discover this superb clear blue water, head to the Bay of Kotor, which is the winner of the prize for the bluest water in Europe, in the southwest of Montenegro. In a setting of mountains plunging into the sea, you will enjoy clear blue water, ideal for swimming with a temperature around 24°C, and whose quality is considered excellent according to regular checks carried out on its cleanliness. The bay is wonderfully explored by kayak, paddleboard or diving and many boat excursions are offered to explore its various inlets and visit its islets such as Notre-Dame-du-Récif or Saint-Georges, the most emblematic.
As for the beaches, however, don't expect fine sand like in the Caribbean, but rather pebble coves, with stone pontoons, very common in villages like Perast, where visitors lay down their towels and dive straight into the water. In addition to its clear waters, the town of Kotor is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its labyrinth of medieval alleys, its Venetian-style stone buildings and its remarkable St. Tryphon Cathedral, one of the oldest in Europe.
According to experts at SIXT , searches for "Kotor Montenegro" jumped 172% in France last month: perhaps this is the perfect time to enjoy this peaceful spectacle before French tourists descend on the bay?
L'Internaute
