Location
France
Status
Officially Designated
Suitable for
Families and adults
Terrain
Sand
Best season
June to September
About Plage de Mateille
Plage de Mateille is the long sandy beach of Gruissan in the Aude, on the Mediterranean coast south of Narbonne, separated from the resort by the Étang de Mateille. The beach is a mix of textile and naturist zones: the naturist sector is a marked stretch in the northern part of the beach, identified on the sand by blue flags. The rest of Mateille is a normal family beach with a lifeguard post. The setting is flat and open, with fine sand, low dunes and lagoons behind, and almost no natural shade. Guides describe the naturist part as fairly wild and often less crowded than you might expect for such a well-known beach. The zone has had a municipal authorisation since 1993, and the blue flags make the boundary with the textile beach easy to see.
Getting there
From Gruissan port, follow Avenue des Plages past the Mateille stadium and over the bridge across the Étang de Mateille. A car park sits at the end of the road where the beach begins; guides suggest continuing along the sandy track to the parking nearer the northern naturist section. In summer, beach shuttles run from Gruissan's Escale Mobilité to Mateille. Access from the parking is a short, flat walk on sand; there is no boardwalk to the naturist zone.
What visitors say
Guides and visitors describe the naturist section as relaxed, spacious and fairly wild, with fewer people than the textile end. Some reports note a lack of bins and showers at the naturist end, while others mention the beach restaurant and lifeguard post nearer the access, so services depend on where you settle.
Summarised in our own words from public reviews and guides listed under Sources.
Amenities
Legal context
France.fr (Atout France) states the Mateille naturist zone received municipal authorisation on 24 August 1993, and blue flags mark the designated area. Outside the flagged zone the beach is textile.
Naturism at Plage de Mateille sits under France's rules for officially designated nude beaches — explicit protection inside the marked area.
Full country law: France public nudity guide.
Naturist status confirmed against an official source on 24 October 2026.
Location
View on interactive map
Approx. 43.1266, 3.1379
Visitor tips
- 1 Official designation: nudity is protected inside the marked area.
- 2 Towel, water, sunscreen. Sit on your own towel.
- 3 No photos without clear consent.
- 4 Check access, tides, and parking before you go.
- 5 House rules and local custom can be stricter than the law.
More in France
Frequently asked questions
Is nudity legal at Mateille?
Yes, in the flagged naturist zone in the northern part of the beach, authorised by the municipality in 1993.
How do I find the naturist section?
Head to the northern part of Plage de Mateille and look for the blue flags marking the zone.
Is there a bus?
In summer, beach shuttles run from Gruissan's Escale Mobilité to Mateille.
Is it suitable for families?
Yes, it is an authorised naturist zone on a flat, sandy beach; bring shade, as there is none.
Sources
Important
Beach status changes. Verify current conditions before you go. This is guidance, not legal advice.
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