Location
France
Status
Informal / Traditional
Suitable for
Families and adults
Terrain
Mixed
Best season
June to September
About Plage du Monaco
Plage du Monaco is a small bay on the coast of Le Pradet, just east of Toulon in the Var, set below pine-covered slopes between the Pin de Galle and Bonnettes coves. The main beach is about 200 metres of coarse sand and fine gravel that drops off fairly quickly into clear water; it is a family beach with a seasonal lifeguard post and a Blue Flag. The naturist area is not the main beach but the coves at its northern end, on the opposite side from the old naturist zone, which was moved within the beach around 2016. France's national tourism site describes the naturist use as tolerated by the municipality and long supported by the Monaco-based naturist association Mer et Soleil. Accounts from visitors describe a regular, mostly middle-aged crowd with a family feel, rocks and pines giving some shade, and a few people walking through from the textile beach to look. A gay guide says the section beyond the old blockhouse is popular with gay naturists while the other part is mixed and family-oriented. A petition has campaigned against moving or closing the naturist beach, a sign that its status depends on the town's tolerance.
Getting there
Park at the Chemin des Bonnettes car park (paid in summer; about 3 euros in 2017) and take a short, steep path with steps through the pines; the climb back up is tiring. Alternatively park at Pin de Galle and follow the coast path. The regional listing mentions a free car park and one WC, and notes that the coastal path section between Monaco and Bonnettes was closed to pedestrians by municipal order. Dogs are banned from the beach. Not wheelchair accessible to the naturist cove.
What visitors say
Visitors generally describe the naturist cove as pleasant and relaxed, with regulars and a family atmosphere, coarse sand and fine gravel, and shaded access through the pines. The main complaints are the steep steps back up to the car park, summer crowding, the paid parking, and occasional gawkers who pass through on the way to the textile beach. One reviewer found the water less clean further out. Some gay visitors use the area beyond the blockhouse.
Summarised in our own words from public reviews and guides listed under Sources.
Amenities
Legal context
France.fr describes the naturist cove as tolerated by the municipality of Le Pradet rather than formally designated; a beach guide claims it has been official since 2016 when the zone was moved. The town's own tourism listing (updated August 2026) does not mention naturism, and an online petition has opposed moving the naturist area.
Naturism at Plage du Monaco sits under France's rules for traditional tolerance — custom more than statute.
Full country law: France public nudity guide.
Naturist status confirmed against an official source on 25 October 2026.
Location
View on interactive map
Approx. 43.1017, 6.0118
Visitor tips
- 1 Informal / tolerated site — be discreet and leave no drama.
- 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
Where exactly is the naturist part?
In the coves at the north end of Plage du Monaco; the main supervised beach is not naturist.
Is nudity legal here?
It is tolerated by the municipality according to France's national tourism site; no formal designation was confirmed.
Where should I park?
Chemin des Bonnettes car park (paid in summer) with a steep path down, or Pin de Galle and the coast path.
Are there facilities?
The main beach has a WC and a lifeguard post in season; showers were suspended in summer 2026 due to drought.
Sources
Important
Beach status changes. Verify current conditions before you go. This is guidance, not legal advice.
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