Mirandole public beach in southern France that was closed for King Salman of Saudi Arabia has reopened after he cut his trip short.
King Salman had been due to stay for three weeks on the French Riviera, but left after only eight days to travel to Tangiers in Morocco.
The beach in Vallauris was closed for King Salman’s trip, causing uproar among locals.
The beach was reopened on August 3, and a lift installed for King Salman was being dismantled.
“All the security measures are gradually being lifted,” the region’s sub-prefect Philippe Castanet told France Bleu.
Jean-Noel Falcou, a town councilor in Vallauris who lodged a petition against the changes to the beach, welcomed the news that it had reopened.
“All the illegal building work, all the trouble it caused, all the refusal of dialogue by the French state – all of that for only eight days of holiday for the Saudi king,” he wrote on his Facebook page on August 3.
More than 100,000 people signed a petition against the closure of the beach. Critics of the move said it was a breach of French laws on equality.
The Mirandole beach is directly below King Salman’s private villa and French officials agreed to seal it off for the monarch’s security.
Building the lift had involved pouring a large concrete slab on the sand.
King Salman of Saudi Arabia has decided to cut short his luxury trip to France, where the closure of a French Riviera beach for his security caused uproar.
King Salman unexpectedly flew on to Morocco after only eight days of what was planned as a three-week stay, officials said.
With the king was at least half of his 1,000-strong entourage, regional official Philippe Castanet added.
More than 100,000 people signed a petition against the closure of the public beach at Vallauris.
The Mirandole beach is directly below King Salman’s private villa and French officials agreed to seal it off for the monarch’s security.
Critics of the move said it was a breach of French laws on equality.
A Saudi source quoted by Reuters said King Salman’s departure was part of his vacation program and not connected to the media coverage the visit had attracted.
It is not clear if the king plans to return to the villa this summer.
Philippe Castanet told AFP news agency that the beach would reopen to the public on August 3.
He said a temporary lift connecting the beach with the villa – which had also angered local residents – would be removed in the coming weeks.
Building the lift had involved pouring a large concrete slab on the sand.
The royal party generated mixed emotions among the local population.
While some were unhappy at the closure of the beach, many traders warmly welcomed King Salman and his wealthy entourage.
Three people have been killed in the south of France after an American private jet crashed on landing.
The twin-engined Gulfstream-IV came down at Castellet airport, between Marseille and Toulon, with all the victims believed to have died on impact.
They were described by an airport source as two men aged 24 and 61, and a woman aged 30. Nobody else was on board.
The jet, which was flying in from nearby Nice, split in two, with one half ending up in a nearby lake after narrowly missing a hotel.
Three people have been killed in the south of France after an American private jet crashed on landing
Fire engines were called to the scene as the main cabin blazed on the runway, but nothing could be done to save those on board, said the same source.
“It was an appalling accident – an investigation has already started,” said the source, who said the accident happened at around 3:00 p.m.
He added: “All the victims are American passport holders.”
Castellet International Airport was built by the late French pastis tycoon Paul Ricard in 1962.
It is the largest private airfield on the French Riviera, and frequently used by celebrities with homes in the area, as well as business people.
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