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ATLANTIC FRANCE
The area that we have designated as Atlantic France consists of two regions along France's central and southern Atlantic coastline. (Brittany, which has coast on both the Atlantic and the English Channel, is included under Northern France.) The regions of Pays-de-la-Loire and Nouvelle-Aquitaine have terrain that is relatively flat near the coast, becoming hillier going into the interior. Most nude beaches—and beaches in general—of this area are sandy and expansive, but there are a few sheltered niches here and there on irregular parts of the coastline.
Pays-de-la-Loire is where the famous Loire River meets the Atlantic, several hundred kilometers downstream from the Loire Valley's spectacular châteaux. The northernmost coastal department of this region, Loire-Atlantique, is historically and culturally part of Brittany even through it is not part of the modern-day region of Bretagne. South of Pays-de-la-Loire, Nouvelle-Aquitaine is the largest of France's 12 mainland regions. Extending south all the way to Spain and inland nearly to the geographic center of France, Nouvelle-Aquitaine covers about 16% of continental France. Vendée and Charente-Maritime are neighboring departments at the coastal border of Pays-de-la-Loire and Nouvelle-Aquitaine, and there are three large islands off the coast of Vendée and Charente-Maritime that extend like fingers into the Atlantic. These islands—Noirmoutier, Ré and Oléron—are all bridged to the mainland, and each has at least one traditionally nude beach.
The Gironde Estuary is the prominent indentation of France's Atlantic coastline between the departments of Charente-Maritime and Gironde (between the numbers 17 and 33 on the map above). Of France's four large Atlantic seaside naturist resorts, three and located in Gironde and one in neighboring Landes, along the coastal expanse between the Gironde Estuary and the Spanish border. There are about 20 smaller-scale naturist resorts in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, most of which are clustered in the sunny and hilly departments that are deep in the interior of the region.
PAYS-DE-LA-LOIRE [ ↑ ]
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| Loire-Atlantique (44)
MAP [ ↑ ]
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NUDE BEACHES
Plage de Pen-Bron [T]
47.3207N, 2.5032W 
| This is a large, popular, sandy beach with a zone of nude use that stretches about one kilometer. |
Plage des Jaunais / Criques de Chémoulin [A]
47.2350N, 2.3007W
| This beautiful collection of small coves can be crowded with naked bodies on warm days. Signs let you know
which coves are designated for nudity. |
Crique de Préfailles [T]
47.1222N, 2.1825W
| This sandy cove is tiny any often crowded but easy to access.
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LODGING
La Châtaigneraie d'Armor
47.2640N, 1.7161W
Couëron
Le Clos-Marot
47.3750N, 2.4924W
Piriac-sur-Mer
Grandlieu Evasion
47.1266N, 1.5918W
Pont-Saint-Martin
A l'Ombre des Deux Tilleuls
47.1011N, 1.8118W
Sainte-Pazanne
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| Maine-et-Loire (49)
MAP [ ↑ ]
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NUDE BEACHES
Plage de la Levée de Belle Poule
47.4171N, 0.4820W
[int]
LODGING
Natanjou
47.4755N, 0.3056W
Cornillé-les-Caves
Les Saulaies
47.5563N, 0.8404W
La Pouëze
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| Mayenne (53)
MAP [ ↑ ]
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LODGING
La Petit Cretouffiere
48.3918N, 0.8400W
Colombiers-du-Plessis
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| Sarthe (72)
MAP [ ↑ ]
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LODGING
Christo Lodges
47.8321N, 0.2929E
Écommoy
Le Champ Monâtre
47.8530N, 0.3378E
Saint-Mars-d'Outillé
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| Vendée (85)
MAP [ ↑ ]
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NUDE BEACHES
Plage de Luzeronde [T]
47.0031N, 2.2965W
| This beach is located at the far western end of Noirmoutier, an island just offshore that is bridged to the
mainland. |
Plage des Lays [A]
46.8575N, 2.1468W
| An 800-meter zone authorized for nudity begins just 200 meters from the parking lot at this easily accessible
beach. |
Plage des Salins [A]
46.7627N, 2.0412W
Plage du Petit Pont [T]
46.6566N, 1.9091W
Plage de Sauveterre [T]
46.5632N, 1.8387W
| Located north of the chic resort town Les Sables d'Olonne, this sandy beach backed by a beautiful coastal
forest is regarded by many as the nicest nude beach of Vendée. |
Plage des Conches [T]
46.3939N, 1.4987W
Plage de la Terrière [T]
46.3591N, 1.4763W
Plage de la Pointe d'Arçay [T]
46.2988N, 1.3048W
| At this expansive, thinly populated beach, you can take a naked stroll for several kilometers to the end of the
beach at a huge alluvial flume at an estuary. |
LODGING
Chez Alain's
46.7171N, 0.7363W
Menomblet
L'Aqual'Yon
46.5590N, 1.3489W
Rives de l'Yon
Villa Madiloje
46.7411N, 1.9511W
Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez
Le Colombier
46.5978N, 0.9694W
Saint-Martin-Lars-en-Sainte-Hermine
Le Petit Chateau
47.0136N, 1.1143W
Tiffauges
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NOUVELLE-AQUITAINE [ ↑ ]
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| Deux-Sèvres (79)
MAP [ ↑ ]
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LODGING
L'Oliverie
46.6332N, 0.1344W
Saurais
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| Vienne (86)
MAP [ ↑ ]
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LODGING
Camping La Pardière
46.4257N, 0.3326E
Château-Larcher
Le Mas Pouantais
47.0057N, 0.2724E
Pouant
Break Free Nat Home
46.8167N, 0.4588E
Thurè
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| Charente-Maritime (17)
MAP [ ↑ ]
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NUDE BEACHES
Plage de Conche des Baleines
46.2511N, 1.5248W
| This is the better established of the two unofficial nude beaches on Île de Ré, an island that is
bridged to the mainland. |
Plage des Petites-Folies
46.1858N, 1.4174W
| This is one of two unofficial nude beaches on Île de Ré, an island that is bridged to the
mainland. |
Plage des Saumonards [A]
45.9897N, 1.2650W
| One of three established nude beaches on Île d'Oléron, this one is the most remote and the
preferred gay beach of the island. Île d'Oléron is bridged to the mainland. |
Plage de la Giraudière [A]
45.8598N, 1.2573W
| One of three established nude beaches on Île d'Oléron, this one is separated from La Grande Plage
by a textile zone. |
La Grande Plage [T]
45.8301N, 1.2478W
| One of three established nude beaches on Île d'Oléron, this beach at the southwestern corner of
the island has a huge zone where nudity is possible, and it can be accessed from either end. |
Plage de la Côte Sauvage [A]
45.7533N, 1.2407W
| Although 800 meters of this beach are officially set aside for naturism, nudity in fact takes place over an
area of three kilometers, with a preferred family area at one end and a gay area at the other. A lot of walking is involved, and this is a
wilder and more remote alternative to nearby Plage de la Palmyre. |
Plage de la Palmyre / Grande-Côte [A]
45.6613N, 1.1399W
| This easily accessible and popular beach draws a mix of nudists and textiles. Although quite spacious, it is
more densely populated than nearby Plage de la Côte Sauvage and requires less effort to reach. |
LODGING
Camping du Port
46.3048N, 0.8047W
La Ronde
Le Petit Dauphin
45.7249N, 1.1731W
Les Mathes
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| Charente (16)
MAP [ ↑ ]
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LODGING
Le Jardin des Hirondelles
45.4651N, 0.3323E
Blanzaguet-Saint-Cybard
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| Haute-Vienne (87)
MAP [ ↑ ]
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LODGING
Lous Suais
45.8181N, 1.6535E
beach
Cheissoux
Moulin de Chez Joyeux
46.2586N, 0.9852E
Thiat
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| Creuse (23)
MAP [ ↑ ]
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LODGING
Creuse Nature
46.3506N, 2.1867E
Boussac
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| Corrèze (19)
MAP [ ↑ ]
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LODGING
Domaine du Coq Rouge
45.0765N, 1.6692E
Collonges-la-Rouge
Aimée Porcher
45.4527N, 1.6522E
Eyburie
Le Saulet
45.3140N, 1.3957E
Vignols
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| Gironde (33)
MAP [ ↑ ]
The department of Gironde is the location of a continuous beach that stretches over 100 kilometers. Extending from the Gironde Estuary to
Arcachon Bay, this long beach is heavily forested, has many vast undeveloped expanses and is regularly punctuated with many designated
naturist zones and unofficial places where nudity is customary. The first 11 of the 13 beaches below are located within this continuous
stretch, while the last two are a bit south of Arcachon Bay.
Gironde is the most significant part of Atlantic France from a naturist perspective. Three of France's Atlantic coastal naturist resorts
are located here, including CHM-Montalivet, which opened in 1950 and is regarded as the world's first naturist vacation resort. The beaches
abutting the three naturist resorts are the most popular nude beaches of Gironde and are attended mainly by resort guests but are open to
the public. The other beaches offer less crowded alternatives. All the nude beaches of Gironde are 60 to 100 kilometers from
Bordeaux.
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NUDE BEACHES
Plage de Saint Nicolas [T]
45.5625N, 1.0910W
| This quiet beach is just south of the Gironde Estuary. |
Plage de la Négade
45.4667N, 1.1565W
Plage de Dépée / Euronat [A]
45.4132N, 1.1598W
| This beach abuts a large seaside naturist resort. |
Plage de Montalivet [A]
45.3610N, 1.1594W
| This beach abuts a large seaside naturist resort. |
Plage du Pin-Sec [T]
45.2778N, 1.1654W
Plage de Hourtin
45.2070N, 1.1744W
Plage de l'Alexandre [T]
45.0391N, 1.1976W
Plage du Lion [T]
44.9600N, 1.2077W
Plage du Porge-Océan [T]
44.9105N, 1.2163W
| This is one of three notable gay beaches in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. |
Plage de La Jenny [T]
44.8478N, 1.2238W
| This beach abuts a large seaside naturist resort. |
Plage du Grand Crohot [T]
44.8077N, 1.2318W
Plage de la Lagune [A]
44.5446N, 1.2520W
| This beach is located just a bit south of Dune du Pilat, which is the largest sand dune in Europe. The south
end of the naturist zone is one of the three notable gay beaches of Nouvelle-Aquitaine. |
Plage de Biscarrosse
44.4736N, 1.2535W
LODGING
Château Guiton
44.7257N, 0.1492W
Frontenac
Euronat
45.4149N, 1.1456W
beach
Grayan-l'Hôpital
Les Garçons du Bassin
44.6399N, 1.1346W
La Teste de Buch
La Jenny
44.8487N, 1.2149W
beach
Le Porge
Villa Presqu'ILS
44.7889N, 1.1493W
Lège-Cap-Ferret
Centre Helio Marin de Montalivet (CHM Monta)
45.3628N, 1.1516W
beach
Vendays-Montalivet
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| Dordogne (24)
MAP [ ↑ ]
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LODGING
Terme d'Astor
44.7578N, 0.9012E
Bouillac
Domaine Petits-Fours
45.6674N, 0.6611E
Busserolles
Domaine de Chaudeau
44.9414N, 0.2124E
Montpon-Ménestérol
Le Couderc
44.7570N, 0.7028E
Naussannes
Le Coteau de l'Herm
45.0713N, 0.9714E
Rouffignac
Le Marcassin de Saint Aubin
44.7354N, 1.2950E
Saint-Aubin-de-Nabirat
Le Diamant Noir
44.9442N, 0.8477E
Val de Louyre et Caudeau
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| Lot-et-Garonne (47)
MAP [ ↑ ]
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LODGING
La Villa de Vérone
44.2297N, 0.6269E
Foulayronnes
Domaine Laborde
44.6140N, 0.8350E
Monflanquin
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| Landes (40)
MAP [ ↑ ]
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NUDE BEACHES
Plage de Mimizan [T]
44.2464N, 1.2917W
Plage de l'Especier [T]
44.1529N, 1.3096W
Plage du Cap de l'Homy
44.0472N, 1.3383W
Plage d'Arnaoutchot [A]
43.9102N, 1.3757W
| This beach abuts a large seaside naturist resort. |
Plage de la Lette Blanche [T]
43.8956N, 1.3803W
| A textile zone separates this nude beach from the nude beach of Arnaoutchot resort. |
Plage des Casernes [T]
43.7356N, 1.4285W
| This is one of three notable gay beaches in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. |
Plage de Hossegor [A]
43.6794N, 1.4411W
| Although a small part of this beach is designated for naturism, it is in a developed area and gets a lot of
non-naturist through traffic. |
Plage de Labenne-Océan [T]
43.6108N, 1.4648W
Plage de Tarnos [T]
43.5672N, 1.4941W
| The designated naturist zone abuts an abandoned air strip and is equidistant from access points at either
end. |
LODGING
Villa Koba
43.7814N, 1.2991W
Azur
Villa Aquitaine
43.8434N, 0.4592W
Bretagne-de-Marsan
Bouhebent
43.9983N, 0.0136E
Gabarret
Le Moulin de Lassalle
43.8998N, 1.2184W
Linxe
Domaine du Coum
44.1682N, 0.6649W
Sabres
Arnaoutchot Natu-Resort & Spa
43.9085N, 1.3673W
beach
Vielle-St-Girons
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| Pyrénées-Atlantiques (64)
MAP [ ↑ ]
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NUDE BEACHES
Plage des Dunes
43.5170N, 1.5298W
Plage des Cent Marches [T]
43.4504N, 1.5860W
| This beach requires a little hiking to reach, but the scenery makes it worth the effort. Although located near
an urbanized area, the nude zone is tucked below the cliffs away from the textile access points. |
Plage d'Hendaye
43.3790N, 1.7561W
| Just a few kilometers from the border with Spain, several areas at the north end of Hendaye's beach are
frequented by nudists. |
LODGING
Les Coges
43.1902N, 0.4925W
Lasseube
Le Jardin des Remparts
43.4896N, 0.7730W
Orthez
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