Location
France
Status
Unofficial / Tolerated
Suitable for
Families and adults
Terrain
Sand
Best season
June to September
About Plage Naturiste des salins
Plage des Salins is a wild Atlantic beach on the Côte de Lumière in Vendée, in the commune of Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez, a few kilometres south of Saint-Jean-de-Monts town centre. It sits on the long dune coast between Saint-Jean-de-Monts and Sion-sur-l'Océan, backed by high dunes and pine forest rather than buildings. The beach is broad fine sand with a very gentle slope: at low tide you walk around 100 m before the water reaches your waist. The naturist zone is in the northern part of the Salins beach, between two signs at either end; regulars describe it as fairly short, about five minutes' walk from sign to sign, and say it has shrunk over the years, so it gets cramped at high spring tides. It can also be reached by walking south-west from the neighbouring Plage des 60 Bornes. The southern part of the beach is used for kitesurfing. The naturist group here is long-established and the crowd is mostly couples and families; it is one of the larger naturist spots in Vendée.
Getting there
From Saint-Jean-de-Monts take the D123 avenue des Becs towards Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie / Sion; the beach access is signposted on the right opposite a holiday centre. A free car park sits about 100 m behind the dunes and fills quickly in summer; the 60 Bornes car park (near Camping des Demoiselles) is an alternative. A marked path crosses the dune in about five minutes. Turn right (north) on the beach for the naturist zone. The approach is reported as easy, with some visitors finding it manageable for reduced mobility.
What visitors say
Reviews over a decade are mostly positive: clean fine sand, easy parking close by and a relaxed, long-standing naturist community. The recurring complaints are that the signed zone is small and has been reduced, so it crowds at high tide and after mid-afternoon in July and August; that textile walkers pass through and some stare; and that showers have been missing for years. Some visitors prefer approaching from the 60 Bornes side. Swimmers note the very shallow slope at low tide.
Summarised in our own words from public reviews and guides listed under Sources.
Amenities
Legal context
Visitors report signs marking each end of the naturist section, indicating a tolerated zone, but no municipal or tourism-board text confirming the designation was found (2026). Nudity outside the signed section can be treated as sexual exhibition in France.
Naturism at Plage Naturiste des salins sits under France's rules for de facto tolerance — usually left alone if you keep it non-sexual and low-drama.
Full country law: France public nudity guide.
Researched 24 October 2026. No official source confirms naturist status, so treat it as unverified.
Location
View on interactive map
Approx. 46.7626, -2.0411
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.
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Frequently asked questions
Where is the naturist area at Plage des Salins?
In the northern part of the beach, between two signs; turn right from the main access, or walk south from Plage des 60 Bornes.
Is it official?
It is a signed, tolerated zone; no official municipal or tourist-office designation was found online.
Is parking free?
Yes, there is a free car park about 100 m from the beach, though it fills early in summer.
Is it good for families?
Reviewers describe a calm, family-friendly crowd, though the zone is small at high tide.
Sources
Important
Beach status changes. Verify current conditions before you go. This is guidance, not legal advice.
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