NATURIST BEACHES IN FRANCE

NATURIST BEACHES ALONG THE MEDITERRANEAN COAST

Cap d’Agde
Without doubt the most popular naturist resorts in all of France, Cap d’Agde is just to the south of Montpellier, a whole resort dedicated to nudists where you can do literally anything without your clothes. And we mean anything too, from shopping to partying – anything goes!

Ile du Levant
Head past Marseille to the region of Ile du Levant, a throwback to a simpler era of nudist beaches. It’s a superb little island, much quieter and more reserved than most other resorts. And what’s more, they have a rule ­– it’s all or nothing.

St Tropez
Tahiti Plage is a widely renowned naturist beach in the gorgeously glamorous surroundings of St Tropez. Brigitte Bardot is unsurprisingly credited with making this place a household name, and could be blamed for making it one of the busiest nudist beaches in France.

Leucate Plage
Leucate Plage is perhaps the best location of all to head for nudist family fun, with its kilometre of golden sands and calm seas. This is much more of a heaven for all things tranquil and relaxing, far from the party atmospheres of some of the other naturist beaches across the French Med. What’s more, Leucate Plage stands out as a supremely popular spot for first timers going all-natural for the first time!

Les Grottes Plage
What’s interesting about Les Grottes Plage is how much of the island is actually closed by the military, but the stretch of beach that’s open to nudists is one of a kind. Not only does it present some of the most amazing nude snorkeling opportunities in France, but it’s also one of the few beaches where nudity is mandatory. If your clothes don’t go, you do!

NATURIST BEACHES ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST

Montalivet Beach
Here’s where nudism in France really kicked off, in the 50s, and little has changed. This is seen globally as the birthplace of nudism and the resort is packed with chalets, bungalows, shops, bars and so on – all of which are 100% nudist friendly.

Euronat
Fancy something a bit bigger? Well, head over to Euronat and you’ll be greeted with a 100-mile stretch of coastline which is in many respects just one gigantic naturist beach. And despite its size, it’s also one of the cleanest, friendliest and generally most appealing on the whole of France’s Atlantic Coast. A great place to head with the whole family for a camping trip.

Vieux St Giron
As for Vieux St. Giron, this is pretty much as good as it gets for nudists who also like to try their hand at surfing. Admittedly the waters can be on the choppy side and the currents tend to be strong, so caution is needed when swimming, especially where children are involved. However, if surfing is your thing and you’ve always wondered what it would be like with no clothes on, here’s your chance to go find out!

THINGS TO BEAR IN MIND

1
Tops On or Off. Generally speaking, going topless on any beach in France is seen as more than acceptable, though there are exceptions so be sure to check locally if in doubt.

2
In terms of underwear, there’s no law that says you can or cannot go fully nude in French beaches, but it is of course considered acceptable on some and not on others.

3
There are some things you just should not be doing on any nudist beach, which include staring, taking photographs or making fun of others.

4
Be sure to check the rules as to whether clothing is accepted, mandatory or banned as there are different rules for each beach. Some you must go nude, some you must not go nude; with some it’s your decision.

5
There are plenty of nude beaches in France that allow and encourage naked walking on nearby trails. But, you need to check where the boundaries of the resort lie in order to avoid giving passers-by a shock.

6
Don’t forget that the fewer items of clothing you wear; the more chance you have of sunburn. And as sunburn is way more painful on some parts of the body than others, be sure to add a liberal dose of cream or oil, and keep topping up.

7
For men, swimming trunks are fine when heading into the sea and some actually salute the use of such garments for helping to keep the water clean. So if you feel the need, don’t be afraid to don a Speedo.

8
Whether or not to take children is a sticky subject, though there are no rules about their being allowed on the beach, or the ages they should or shouldn’t be…it’s all up to their parents or guardians.

9
Last but not least, be sure to take sufficient clothing or blankets to cover yourself up when the sun is at its strongest. Going nude often means falling for the trap of taking little to nothing to cover up with at all, which can of course be a painful mistake.